Netanyahu Trial: 'I'm Watching Over Dad,' PM's Son Told Ex-aide Who Asked Him About Job
Nir Hefetz, former Netanyahu adviser turned state's evidence, says in cross-examination that Netanyahu's son caused 'immense damage to his father, the country'
Benjamin Netanyahu’s former aide, now a key prosecution witness in his corruption trial, told court on Wednesday that the former premier's son had overseen his father's doings after the 2015 election.
Yair Netanyahu "caused immense damage to his father and the country" by "taking over his father's public relations after the [2015] election," Nir Hefetz, who turned state's evidence, told the Jerusalem District Court.
"After the election I asked Yair, 'Aren't you planning on going to study or work?' and he told me 'No, in the coming years I plan to accompany and watch over my father," Hefetz said during the cross-examination by Iris Elovitch's lawyer.
Iris Elovitch is the wife of Shaul Elovitch, the controlling shareholder of the Bezeq media giant that owns the Walla News site. Bezeq sought to abolish the structural separation between its different units and Netanyahu is accused of conferring regulatory benefits on Bezeq merger in exchange for biased coverage in Walla.
Shaul Elovitch, who was Bezeq's controlling shareholder, has also been charged in the case.
Hefetz also told court on Wednesday Elovich did all he could to please Netanyahu, while being constantly under attack by Yair and Sara Netanyahu. "Yair and [Sara] were always at the premier's residence, and he provoked her," Hefetz said.
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"Elovich did whatever he could to please the Netanyahus with Walla's coverage [of them]," Hefetz added. "I don't think he could've done more than he did."