Former PM slams A-G Mandelblit for 'not doing enough' in Netanyahu probe

Barak responded to reports that Mandelblit has not made an effort to question former US secretary of State John Kerry and Former US Ambassador to Israel Daniel Shapiro.

By GIL HOFFMAN, ARIEL WHITMAN
Updated: FEBRUARY 24, 2017 13:39
EHUD BARAK has attacked Benjamin Netanyahu, calling him ‘the worst prime minister in Israel’s history.’ (photo credit: COURTESY EYAL BASSON/DARKENU)
EHUD BARAK has attacked Benjamin Netanyahu, calling him ‘the worst prime minister in Israel’s history.’
(photo credit: COURTESY EYAL BASSON/DARKENU)
Former prime minister Ehud Barak issued harsh criticism of Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit on his twitter account Friday for not doing enough to find evidence that would incriminate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Barak responded to reports that Mandelblit has not made an effort to question former US secretary of State John Kerry or Former US Ambassador to Israel Daniel Shapiro, who still resides in Israel, on allegations that Netanyahu asked them to help obtain a US visa for billionaire confidant Arnon Milchen.
"The people's trust in Mandelblit is crashing. What reason can he possibly have to avoid obtaining testimony from Ambassador Shapiro or Kerry? The Attorney General is keeping investigators from finding the truth," he said, adding "can this be? in who's name? And why?"

Barak also commented on twitter about a Channel 2 report that State Comptroller Yosef Shapira had asked for the evidence in Mandelblit's investigation into allegations that Netanyahu had been colluding with newspaper owners.
Barak said that "every child can see that this constitutes free political favors. The comptroller is saying to us all that the 'emperor has no clothes', why isn't Mandelblit saying the same?"

Barak and Mandelblit have been at odds in the past. Barak has been anti-Mandelblit for years having viewed him as taking former IDF chief-of-staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi's side in the Harpaz Affair when Mandelblit served as Ashkenazi's and the army's top lawyer.