Left-center Knesset members strongly reacted to PM saying that judicial system "stitched cases" • Nitzan Horowitz attacked Likud ministers who came to support: "A bunch of junkies"

• Ya'alon (left) and Gantz (archive)

  Photo: 

  Oren Ben Hakun

At the conclusion of the first hearing in Jerusalem District Court in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's legal cases, backlash in the center-left on Netanyahu's statement during which he accused the judicial system of "stitching cases". 

MK Nitzan Horowitz, chairman of Meretz, wrote in his Twitter account: "I have come to the Jerusalem court to protest the accused's dangerous incitement from Balfour. The defendants' assistants and collaborators are threatening and dispatching, including a bunch of junkies who have crawled here from the government, and we tell them: we will face you and the corruption, everywhere, without fear. "  

Netanyahu in a special statement in his trial // Photo: Reuters

Former Knesset Member and former Moshe (Boogie) Ya'alon, of the Yesh Atidim Talmud Party, contented himself with a brief tweet addressed to the incoming GSS and alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz, a former party partner, in which he wrote: "Got it, Benny? Or not yet ... "    

Got it, son? Or not yet? ...

- Moshe 'Boogie' Ya'alon (@bogie_yaalon) May 24, 2020

MK Yair Lapid, a chairman of the future, also issued a statement saying: "Netanyahu's wild and incitement in his trial is a definitive proof why a criminal defendant cannot continue to serve as prime minister."

I came to the Jerusalem court to protest the accused's dangerous incitement from Balfour. The defendants' assistants and collaborators are threatening and dispatching, including a bunch of junkies who have crawled here from the government, and we tell them: we will face you and the corruption, everywhere, without fear. pic.twitter.com/G54EWrjvzX

- Nitzan Horowitz Nitzan Horowitz (@NitzanHorowitz) May 24, 2020

Knesset Member Merav Michaeli of the work also commented: "Netanyahu has the presumption of innocence over the charges. He has no presumption of how he incites, exploits girls and so many people who trust him, tearing Israeli society apart and destroying Our democracy. He is very guilty of all of these. Nothing will clear him of that. " 

Netanyahu faces the presumption of innocence over the charges. He has no presumption that he is passionate about, exploits so many girls and people who trust him, tearing Israeli society apart and destroying our democracy. In all these he is very guilty. Nothing will clear him of that.

- Merav Michaeli Marav Michaeli (@MeravMichaeli) May 24, 2020

Netanyahu's trial, which is charged with bribery and breach of trust, began today at 3 PM in Jerusalem District Court. Many Likud MKs came to court and stood by Netanyahu while making a special statement before entering the courtroom. Among those present were Minister Miri Regev, Minister Yoav Galant, Minister Amir Ohana, MK Tzahi Hanegbi and MK Nir Barkat. 

In a special statement before the trial, Netanyahu said: "Representatives of the media want to photograph me as part of the 'Just not Bibi' campaign, I want the public to see the whole picture and to tell the whole truth. The public needs to hear everything and not through the prosecutor's court papers, so my first request from the court Is to allow the transmission of my life throughout the trial. "

Netanyahu further read: "Immediately publish the document sent by the Justice Department to the State Comptroller. I demand to publish the transcripts of the investigations used by delinquent measures with the aim of ousting witnesses who will incriminate me with false testimony."