After four elections, a huge rift in Israeli society, in-depth surveys that indicate a loss of public trust in Israeli law enforcement systems, allegations of a legal-governmental coup, hundreds of millions of shekels invested in investigative and judicial bodies mobilized in one campaign - can after all, That the saga will end in one signature slap, one thanksgiving, an argument about disgrace?
At the time of writing, no official announcement has been made and perhaps a decision in principle has not yet been made, but the very discussion of a plea agreement, the very existence of negotiations on its terms - requires every citizen in Israel to ask whether the state can afford the big political-legal-media event In its history, with all the bad blood he left behind, with all the questions left open, and moving on as if nothing had happened?
The answer is no.
Not in the capital.
Benjamin Netanyahu is at the peak of this process as a politician and leader - but also as an individual.
He may, and may even need, conduct his defense as he and his legal counsel understand.
This is the most basic meaning of law and justice.
For the first time since the reports of a plea deal: Netanyahu's trial resumed // Photo: Yoni Rickner
In the face of the individual, however, the plea agreement is before the Office of the Attorney General and the State Attorney's Office as a whole.
No settlement, including one that would be better with Netanyahu beyond what his political opponents would want, would solve the ailments to which Israeli citizens were exposed from the moment the suspicions were published, through the interrogation period, the opening of the trial and the testimonies heard so far.
Because a plea bargain has two sides - and the plea agreement with Benjamin Netanyahu will also rescue the Mandelblit justice from his own trial, public law. It was former Supreme Court President Miriam Naor who ruled that the Netanyahu trial is also Mandelblit's trial - The employment of the consultant.
Leaks and briefings in the media - as if time is pressing, the hourglass is running out, and a better plea deal to be signed in the coming days before Mandelblit ends his term - are sinful to the truth.
The prosecution is in the midst of a criminal proceeding regardless of the identities of the players, and this proceeding will continue even when the current counsel finishes his role.
A plea agreement, if required, can also be formulated and signed under the next ombudsman - including the deletion of the 2000 case and the bribery clause in the 4000 case.
Mandelblit, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
The pressure that system executives are under to reach a plea agreement highlights not only their plight, but also and above all the public interest: the public interest, vital and critical, is to continue to fully investigate the issues and issues raised and exposed during the investigation and trial. What closes privately and personally with Netanyahu will have to open up nationally and stately to the public and to history. And the way to do this is one: to set up a commission of inquiry backed by unbiased, unidentified or dependent on the judiciary in its current incarnation - that is, former judges, veteran professionals and academics - who will answer a question that will continue to divide and divide society. Doubtful, perhaps even illegal, and caused a political upheaval in Israel out of overt or covert motivation?
A plea bargain at this point is not really a "compromise" or "risk minimization" for both parties, it is a manipulation that should be refuted every time someone raises it in a public debate.
The great strategic move has already been achieved: despite its immense popularity, which also remains stable in this week's polls, Netanyahu has lost power in the shadow of investigations and the trial.
Moving Netanyahu was at one point a leading purpose of the justice system, or at least a preferred and long-awaited scenario;
The ombudsman admitted this clearly.
A plea bargain means leaving this question mark floating in the air, because many Israeli citizens will carry it with them as an open wound.
The deepest thing that democracy gives to citizens, the ability to influence their future and elect their representatives and their leadership, is taken from them.
The democratic procedure was desecrated.
Is there anyone serious who thinks a plea deal will make the spirits calm down?
Is there anyone sane who believes that this thing will not leave a residue and will further deepen the crisis of confidence in democracy?
The citizens of Israel are not small children.
Yes, they understand very well that a plea bargain is actually a deal, in which the parties give up in order to reach a compromise.
But this is the historic flagship trial of the State Attorney's Office that takes place in the heart of democracy.
The opinion does not tolerate that it will be possible to get off the bribery section or delete an entire case from the indictment;
The opinion does not tolerate that precisely about him they will move to the agenda about what has been revealed about the methods of interrogation and the agreements with the interrogation witnesses.
What happened to the "study of the truth"?
Is only one party allowed to know her?
The predatory and forceful move, while relinquishing many principles that are ostensibly the bread and butter of the Israeli law enforcement system, ultimately leads to a confession of negligible charges in the face of heavy suspicions and serious counts.
And this leads to one conclusion: Under these conditions, the defendant's confession cannot be perceived as a confession for the time being.
The senior members of the system also know this.
Netanyahu, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
If Israeli society wants life, then Netanyahu's personal interest should end with him - but the public interest in Netanyahu's trial must be examined.
And that should be the big task of the opposition now: to look into the eyes of the public and commit not to go over it on the agenda.
A commission of inquiry shall be established, in which all the parliamentary and public tools at their disposal shall be mobilized for this purpose.
The moral value and historical significance of the mission cannot be overstated.
This is not a tribute to Netanyahu or to "babysitters."
If anything, they are doing it for the next generation of the national right in Israel.
And in the short term, this is the only thing that will move reforms in the justice system, and most importantly - will allow Israeli democracy to recover from the trauma it has experienced.
Were we wrong?
Fixed!
If you found an error in the article, we'll be happy for you to share it with us
