Netanyahu trial judges order Attorney-General Baharav-Miara to appear in court next week

The Jerusalem District Court panel said Baharav-Miara must appear on November 18, a day after prosecutors told the court she would not attend a proposed discussion.

The panel hearing the criminal trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara on Thursday to appear at the Jerusalem District Court to discuss how the proceedings concerning the prime minister are being managed and the options for moving them forward.

Baharav-Miara is due to appear on Wednesday, November 18, at 9:30 a.m. The decision follows her refusal to attend a proposed discussion, conveyed to the court by prosecutors a day earlier.

The judges said the hearing would examine different options for managing and advancing the proceedings with the parties’ authorized representatives.

Why the court summoned the Attorney-General

“After considering this position, we reached the conclusion that there is nevertheless added value in the Attorney-General herself appearing,” presiding Judge Rivka Friedman-Feldman and Judges Moshe Bar-Am and Oded Shaham wrote.

“The reason is that, in order to conduct a purposeful two-way dialogue, we believe it is necessary for the person responsible for making decisions to be able to hear matters directly and address them as needed.”

If necessary, the panel added, it would consider holding the hearing behind closed doors in the courtroom.