The Netanyahu trial

Hefetz testifies: "Yair Netanyahu expected special treatment from Walla !, he ran an entire campaign about it"

The state witness in the 4000 case was questioned about articles that hinted at the sexual orientation of the former prime minister's son.

"The rumors hit Yair and his family hard," Hefetz said.

"The most legitimate father is obligated to act to soften publications in the media as he understands them in us"

Yael Friedson

20/12/2021

Monday, 20 December 2021, 10:42 Updated: 11:43

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In the video: Nir Hefetz on the dock (Photo: Roni Knafo)

State witness in the 4000 case Nir Hefetz, former communications adviser to former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, testified today (Monday) that "Yair Netanyahu expected special treatment from Walla !, he ran an entire campaign about it." He said these things during the cross-examination against him.

At the beginning of the hearing, Hefetz was questioned by attorney Boaz Ben-Zur, who represents Netanyahu. The investigation was conducted around conversations with Netanyahu that he recorded, which also included a conversation with Yair Netanyahu, following the publication of a news item that hinted at the sexual orientations of the former prime minister's son.

"The rumors about sexual orientations greatly hurt Yair and his family," Hefetz testified. "In these issues that are so offensive and sensitive, because in infancy he is exposed to the public and criticism, I take what his psyche feels and with that I work, and I as a speaker have to deal with it. If he is harmed by it - it has to be dealt with."

Hefetz testified that he acted to download an item on a topic published in Walla!

Brenze, and said that "Yair Netanyahu did expect special treatment from Walla! But not from The Marker." He ran a campaign for it that deserves special treatment from Walla!

On Benjamin Netanyahu's involvement in the issue, he said: "The most legitimate father is obligated to act to soften publications in the media as his son understands them."

More on Walla!

Hefetz and Netanyahu's defense attorneys present: A love-hate story

To the full article

More on Walla!

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Netanyahu Courtroom November 16, 2021 (Photo: Official Website, Emil Salman)

In the previous discussion, Hefetz was asked by Ben-Zur about the status of Ilan Yeshua, CEO of the Walla website, and quoted Hefetz's remarks from the testimony in which he described Yeshua as a "totalitarian ruler." In response, Hefetz clarified: The previous day had been a bit stormy. I will try to be more measured, to formulate in a less offensive way, we are human beings, one can get angry. For every media outlet there is a character or two there are strong characters. "On the Walla website, at least after memorizing Magal left as editor-in-chief and until I get out of things, there is one strong figure there, Ilan Yeshua, he is omnipotent on the site."

Ben-Zur later asked Hefetz to understand how important the Walla site was to him and Netanyahu, and projected an excerpt from the police investigation in which Hefetz says that "the site has almost no effect on a public agenda."

Hefetz confirmed the matter regarding the routine, but clarified that during the election period the importance of the site increases "it lasted until March 18 until the government was formed. I said that Walla was important in the specific matters of the family, besides not important at all," Hefetz said.

Case 4000 (Bezeq-Walla affair), the most serious case for the prime minister, deals with regulatory benefits worth hundreds of millions of shekels, which Netanyahu allegedly granted to Elowitz.

In return, according to the indictment, Elovich acted to skew the coverage on the Walla! Website, which was under his control.

In this case, Netanyahu is accused of bribery.

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