Avichai Mandelblit

Avichai Mandelblit was born and raised in Tel Aviv. His parents were Baruch (Mickey) and Ada Mandelblit. His father, a clothing merchant and deputy head of the Israel Football Association, was an Irgun veteran and member of the right-wing Herut party. At age 26, Mandelblit became an Orthodox Jew and a disciple of rabbi Baruch Ashlag.{{cite web |last=Lev |first=Tzvi |date=13 February 2018 |title=The man who can end Netanyahu |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/241913 |access-date=18 August 2020 |website=Israel National News |archive-date=31 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200831034130/http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/241913 |url-status=live }}

Mandelblit postponed his mandatory military service in the Israel Defense Forces to attend Tel Aviv University as part of the Atuda program. He joined the IDF in 1985, after graduating with a bachelor's degree in law. He later earned a Ph.D. in law from Bar-Ilan University.{{Cite news |last1=Mersinoglu |first1=Yasemin Craggs |last2=Zion |first2=Ilan Ben |date=2019-09-09 |title=Meticulous legalist who holds Netanyahu's fate in his hands |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/3f244c48-ad38-11e9-8030-530adfa879c2 |access-date=2023-10-16 |archive-date=5 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205022606/https://www.ft.com/content/3f244c48-ad38-11e9-8030-530adfa879c2 |url-status=live }}

File:Aluf Avichai Mandelblit.jpg]]

Upon joining the IDF, he held a variety of positions in the Military Advocate General's Office. Between 1991 and 1992, he served as a judge on the Military Court of the Gaza region. In 1993, he was appointed senior assistant to the Chief Military Prosecutor, and later became his deputy. In 1997, he was appointed Deputy President of the Military Court of the Southern Command and the Ground Forces. In 2000, he was appointed as the Head of the Chief Military Defense, and, in 2003, as the Deputy Military Advocate General. In 2004, he was promoted to the rank of Tat Aluf (Brigadier General) and appointed as the Chief Military Advocate General. In 2009, he was promoted to the rank of Aluf.

During his service as the Chief Military Advocate General, Mandelblit frequently expressed the IDF's legal viewpoint upon different issues of the international humanitarian law. In December 2007, he declared that the IDF's use of cluster bombs during the Second Lebanon War complied with international humanitarian law.{{cite news |last=Hanan |first=Greenberg |date=24 December 2007 |title=IDF: Use of cluster bombs during war legal |work=Ynetnews |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3486267,00.html |url-status=live |access-date=24 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728072724/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0%2C7340%2CL-3486267%2C00.html |archive-date=28 July 2012}} He was also among the harsh critics of the Goldstone Report, stating:{{Blockquote|We ourselves set up investigations into 140 complaints. It is when you read these other reports and complaints that you realize how truly vicious the Goldstone report is. He made it look like we set out to go after the economic infrastructure and civilians, that it was intentional. It's a vicious lie.|author=Avichai Mandelblit{{cite news|date=23 January 2010 |title=IDF set to counter Goldstone Report|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3838461,00.html|url-status=live|work=Ynetnews|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160830035452/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0%2C7340%2CL-3838461%2C00.html|archive-date=30 August 2016|access-date=30 January 2010}}}}

On 15 September 2011, Mandelblit was succeeded as the Chief Military Advocate General by Danny Efroni.{{cite web |last=Pfeffer |first=Anshel |date=2011-08-24 |title=Col. Danny Efroni to be next IDF military advocate general |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/col-danny-efroni-to-be-next-idf-military-advocate-general-1.380445 |access-date=2019-10-01 |website=Haaretz |publisher= |archive-date=5 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105193604/http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/col-danny-efroni-to-be-next-idf-military-advocate-general-1.380445 |url-status=live }}

After retiring from the military in 2011, Mandelblit served until 2013 as a researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies.{{Cite web |date=4 June 2018 |title=Dr. Avihai Mandelblit |url=https://www.gov.il/en/Departments/general/ihsf_mandelblit |website=Ministry of National Security |access-date=21 November 2019 |archive-date=3 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203173929/https://www.gov.il/en/Departments/general/ihsf_mandelblit |url-status=live }}

In 2013, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appointed Mandelblit to the post of Cabinet Secretary which he served during the thirty-third government of Israel and the beginning of thirty-fourth government of Israel.{{Cite web |last=Kalman |first=Aaron |date=29 April 2013 |title=Avichai Mandelblit named cabinet secretary |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/avichai-mandelblit-named-cabinet-secretary/ |access-date=2023-10-16 |website=The Times of Israel |language=en-US |archive-date=25 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725220036/https://www.timesofisrael.com/avichai-mandelblit-named-cabinet-secretary/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Kershner |first=Isabel |date=2018-02-14 |title=Promoted by Netanyahu, Israel's Attorney General Must Now Scrutinize Him |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/13/world/middleeast/israel-attorney-general-mandelblit-netanyahu.html |access-date=2023-10-16 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=27 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191127163934/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/13/world/middleeast/israel-attorney-general-mandelblit-netanyahu.html |url-status=live }} During this role he was in charge of establishing the Kotel compromise.{{Cite news |last=Sade |first=Shuky |date=6 January 2017 |title=נדלבליט יעשה כמעט הכל כדי לחלץ את ביבי - אבל לא הכל |trans-title=Mandelblit will do almost anything to rescue Bibi - but not everything |work=TheMarker |url=https://www.themarker.com/markerweek/2017-01-06/ty-article/0000017f-e993-d62c-a1ff-fdfb6d5a0000 |access-date=2023-10-16 |archive-date=16 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016212552/https://www.themarker.com/markerweek/2017-01-06/ty-article/0000017f-e993-d62c-a1ff-fdfb6d5a0000 |url-status=live }}

Mandelblit was appointed Attorney General of Israel in 2016, with the support of Netanyahu and his Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked.{{Cite web |last=Bob |first=Yonah Jeremy |date=2019-03-01 |title=Mandelblit: From PM's man to overthrowing Netanyahu – the timeline |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/mandelblit-from-pms-man-to-overthrowing-netanyahu-the-timeline-582075 |access-date=2023-10-16 |website=The Jerusalem Post |language=en-US |archive-date=25 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725180005/https://www.jpost.com//israel-news/mandelblit-from-pms-man-to-overthrowing-netanyahu-the-timeline-582075 |url-status=live }}

As attorney general, Mandelblit gained "a reputation as a meticulous legalist" who prioritizes the rule of law; although a longtime member of the Likud party, Mandelblit was described by colleagues and friends as an apolitical attorney general whose decisionmaking is not colored by political considerations. He opposed Section 7 of the proposed nation-state law, which would have allowed Jewish communal settlements to refuse to accept non-Jewish residents.{{Cite web |last=Sones |first=Mordechai |date=15 July 2018 |title='All cities in the Galilee will become mixed' |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/248931 |access-date=2023-10-16 |website=Israel National News |archive-date=26 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326114832/https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/248931 |url-status=live }} After his retirement as attorney-general, he became a critic of the government's proposed judicial overhaul, stating that it threatens Israel's liberal democratic system.{{Cite web |last=Starr |first=Michael |date=February 28, 2023 |title=Ex-A-G Mandelblit: Israel in regime revolution, not judicial reform |url=https://m.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-733001 |access-date=March 21, 2023 |website=The Jerusalem Post |archive-date=11 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231011060404/https://m.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-733001 |url-status=live }}

As of June 2020, Mandelblit is also serving as acting State Attorney because the entering Justice Minister Avi Nissenkorn has yet to appoint a new State Attorney to succeed Shai Nitzan. The High Court approved this arrangement.{{cite news |date=1 June 2020 |title=High Court says attorney general can also serve as state attorney |pages=1 June 2020 |work=The Times of Israel |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/high-court-says-attorney-general-can-also-serve-as-state-attorney/ |access-date=16 June 2020 |archive-date=16 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616114403/https://www.timesofisrael.com/high-court-says-attorney-general-can-also-serve-as-state-attorney/ |url-status=live }}

{{Main|Investigations involving Benjamin Netanyahu}}

Although Mandelblit had a close working relationship with Netanyahu dating back to Mandelblit's time as IDF's Military Advocate General, Mandelblit pursued criminal probes into Netanyahu relating to allegations of corruption by the prime minister and his associates. In July 2016, Mandelblit opened an initial review of Netanyahu's conduct in an unspecified case, and was criticized by some on the left who viewed Mandelblit as protecting the prime minister. In January 2017, Mandelblit approved law enforcement questioning of Netanyahu in connection with Case 1000 (an inquiry into allegedly illegal gifts). After the separate Case 2000 (Yediot Aharonot-Israel Hayom affair) against Netanyahu emerged, Mandelblit moved slowly on the case. In September 2017, Mandelblit indicted the prime minister's wife, Sara Netanyahu; as part of a plea agreement, Sara Netanyahu was ordered to pay the equivalent of {{Usd|15,000}}.

In February 2018, police recommended that Prime Minister Netanyahu be indicted for bribery in cases 1000 and 2000. Later that year, another case, the Bezeq-Walla! affair Case 4000 emerged, and the prime minister fell under suspicion after his former allies Shlomo Filber and Nir Hefetz, turned state's evidence and became witnesses against Netanyahu.{{Cite news |last=Ziv |first=Amitai |date=24 February 2018 |title=Who Is Shlomo Filber, the Netanyahu Crony Who Turned State's Evidence? |language=en |work=Haaretz |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2018-02-21/ty-article/.premium/who-is-shlomo-filber-the-netanyahu-crony-to-turn-states-evidence/0000017f-df18-db22-a17f-ffb963000000 |access-date=2023-10-16 |archive-date=2 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230702081217/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2018-02-21/ty-article/.premium/who-is-shlomo-filber-the-netanyahu-crony-to-turn-states-evidence/0000017f-df18-db22-a17f-ffb963000000 |url-status=live }} In December 2018, after State Prosecutor Shai Nitzan recommended that Netanyahu be indicted,{{cite web |author=Gold |first=Jack |date=20 December 2018 |title=Israel State Prosecutor's Office recommends Netanyahu indictment |url=https://worldisraelnews.com/prosecutors-office-recommends-indicting-netanyahu-on-bribery-charges/ |access-date=7 January 2019 |website=World Israel News |archive-date=20 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220230924/https://worldisraelnews.com/prosecutors-office-recommends-indicting-netanyahu-on-bribery-charges/ |url-status=live }} Mandelblit announced that he would "work quickly" to decide whether to indict Netanyahu.{{cite web |author=Hoffman |first=Gil |date=20 December 2018 |title=Mandelblit: We are not hounding the prime minister |url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Netanyahu-lawyer-No-to-plea-deal-574916 |access-date=7 January 2019 |work=The Jerusalem Post |archive-date=20 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220121334/https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Netanyahu-lawyer-No-to-plea-deal-574916 |url-status=live }} Mandelblit said he would not act "at the expense of quality decisions and professionalism" and "would not be influenced by anything other than the evidence and the law".

In February 2019, Mandelblit announced he had accepted police recommendations to indict Netanyahu on three charges and that an indictment would be formally issued following a hearing.{{cite web |date=28 February 2019 |title=Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be indicted for corruption |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/israeli-prime-minister-benjamin-netanyahu-to-be-indicted-for-corruption/ |access-date=28 February 2019 |website=CBS News |archive-date=28 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228212250/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/israeli-prime-minister-benjamin-netanyahu-to-be-indicted-for-corruption/ |url-status=live }} Contested pre-indictment hearings concluded in October 2019.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=7 October 2019 |title=Netanyahu hearings end, but defense gets two more weeks for written submissions |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-lawyers-prosecutors-wrap-up-4-days-of-pre-indictment-hearings/ |access-date=2023-10-16 |website=The Times of Israel |language=en-US |archive-date=8 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208060101/https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-lawyers-prosecutors-wrap-up-4-days-of-pre-indictment-hearings/ |url-status=live }}

On 21 November 2019, Mandelblit indicted Netanyahu on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust (in connection with Case 4000) and fraud and breach of public trust (in connection with Case 1000 and Case 2000).{{Cite news |last=Bandel |first=Netael |date=21 November 2019 |title=Netanyahu Charged With Bribery, Fraud and Breach of Trust, Capping a Dramatic Political Year |language=en |work=Haaretz |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2019-11-21/ty-article/netanyahu-charged-bribery-fraud-corruption-israel-election/0000017f-e64e-df2c-a1ff-fe5f28720000 |access-date=2023-10-16 |archive-date=22 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230522165518/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2019-11-21/ty-article/netanyahu-charged-bribery-fraud-corruption-israel-election/0000017f-e64e-df2c-a1ff-fe5f28720000 |url-status=live }} At the same time, Mandelblit indicted Yediot Ahronot owner Arnon Nuni Mozes on a bribery charge and Bezeq-Walla! owner Shaul Elovitch and his wife Iris on charges of bribery and obstruction of justice.{{Cite web |last=Bob |first=Yonah Jeremy |date=2019-11-22 |title=Netanyahu indicted– A-G: It is my duty by law to indict PM |url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/mandelblit-reportedly-will-announce-netanyahu-indictment-today-608541 |access-date=2023-10-16 |website=The Jerusalem Post |language=en-US |archive-date=21 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191121194651/https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Mandelblit-reportedly-will-announce-Netanyahu-indictment-today-608541 |url-status=live }}

On 13 October 2020, Amit Segal had leaked an audio talk of Madelblit that implied that Madelblit was blackmailed, and that he got a tailored case against him.{{Cite web |last=Israel |first=David |date=14 October 2020 |title=Likud Demands Mandelblit's Resignation; Shocking Recordings Imply AG Was Blackmailed to Indict Netanyahu |url=https://www.jewishpress.com/news/politics/likud-demands-mandelblits-resignation-shocking-recordings-imply-ag-was-blackmailed-to-indict-netanyahu/2020/10/14/ |access-date=2021-04-30 |website=The Jewish Press |language=en-US |archive-date=31 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031044115/https://www.jewishpress.com/news/politics/likud-demands-mandelblits-resignation-shocking-recordings-imply-ag-was-blackmailed-to-indict-netanyahu/2020/10/14/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|date=2020-10-13|title=N12 - חשיפה {{!}} הקלטות מנדלבליט: "המניאק הזה לא מחליט בתיק שלי"|url=https://www.mako.co.il/news-israel/2020_q4/Article-4f96b1a25722571026.htm|access-date=2021-04-30|website=N12|archive-date=16 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016165728/https://www.mako.co.il/news-israel/2020_q4/Article-4f96b1a25722571026.htm|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=הקלטות נדירות נחשפו: למה מנדלבליט כינה את שי ניצן מניאק?|url=https://www.maariv.co.il/news/politics/Article-795433|access-date=2021-04-30|website=www.maariv.co.il|date=13 October 2020 |archive-date=14 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201014000111/https://www.maariv.co.il/news/politics/Article-795433|url-status=live}}

On 14 October 2020 The Times of Israel had reported that "The release of the tapes by Channel 12 on Tuesday was seen by allies of Netanyahu—whom Mandelblit indicted on corruption charges earlier this year—as supporting an unsubstantiated conspiracy theory that the attorney general had been blackmailed by the state attorney, prosecutors and police into filing the charges as part of a 'witch hunt' aimed at ousting the premier. The newly aired recordings, while highlighting a beef between Mandelblit and Nitzan years before the Netanyahu investigations began, do not provide evidence for any such blackmail."{{Cite web |last1=Bachner |first1=Michael |date=14 October 2020 |title=Netanyahu ally threatens more dirt will air about AG if he doesn't resign |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-implicit-threat-netanyahu-ally-urges-ag-to-resign-says-more-dirt-will-air/ |access-date=2021-04-30 |website=The Times of Israel |language=en-US |archive-date=16 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016215749/https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-implicit-threat-netanyahu-ally-urges-ag-to-resign-says-more-dirt-will-air/ |url-status=live }}

Mandelblit lives in Petah Tikva with his wife and six children.

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category|Avichai Mandelblit}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100126075103/http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/about/staff/Avichai_Mendelblit.htm IDF profile]

{{Military Advocate Generals of Israel}}

{{Attorneys General of Israel}}

{{State Attorneys of Israel}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mandelblit, Avichai}}

Category:1963 births

Category:Living people

Category:Attorneys general of Israel

Category:Bar-Ilan University alumni

Category:Israeli generals

Category:Military personnel from Tel Aviv

Category:Tel Aviv University alumni

Category:Israeli Orthodox Jews