Knesset's anniversary turns into a celebration for the destroyer of Israel's democracy ■ As the prime minister nears the end of his criminal testimony, he's likely to intensify his campaign against Israel's attorney general

In the annals of the young dictatorship now taking shape here, the past week will be remembered as a significant milestone. On Monday, which was the Jewish "New Year for Trees" holiday and also the Knesset's 77th anniversary, the Knesset met as it does every year, for a "ceremonial" session.

There have been more festive traffic accidents than what we witnessed: there was a boycott of Supreme Court President Isaac Amit, who wasn't invited, as he customarily is every year; half of the auditorium was empty, due to the opposition's protest; there was a threat issued by the Knesset Speaker – delivered with an intimidating look and clenched eyebrows, as if he were a debt collector meeting his victim in a dark alley – against the Supreme Court president and other justices lest they dare strike down the abominable bills presented by the coalition; there was a demonstrative absence of President Isaac Herzog, who is apparently fed up with serving as a fig leaf covering this government's shame; a few submissive cabinet members and one prime minister whose "ceremonial" speech was a glorious gaslighting performance, a painted tapestry of lamentation, crying, and wailing about the trampling of democracy, the crushing of the judiciary, and the erosion of the checks and balances.

Listening to Netanyahu bemoaning the downfall of democracy was like listening to the thuggish Likud activist Mordechai David calling to fulfill the command to respect the elderly.

There aren't enough exclamation marks for expressing the nausea rising to one's throat upon hearing every sentence and paragraph uttered by the supposed "defender of democracy."

Here are some examples: "The greatest danger to democracy is its cancellation;" "We have to find the way to restore the balance between the three branches of government… (democracy is) the way to preserve the rights of the individual along with respecting the wishes of the majority, and the way to ensure that one branch of government does not overrun another one;" "we want to achieve the same understandings that guided the State of Israel for decades."

Where are the days, he lamented, when "there are no people running over others and no people being run over" when it came to the branches of government. He fondly noted the American Constitution (he's been Prime Minister for 16 years but never thought to draw up such a document), as well as George Washington, who disdainfully rejected an appeal that he become "king" and demanded that checks and balances be instated in order to block a government's power.

Around the government table the great democrats listened and cheered, Itamar Pericles Ben-Gvir, Yariv Montesquieu Levin, Shlomo Jefferson Karhi, Israel Madison Katz, Amichai Lincoln Chikli and Idit Jabotinsky Silman.

Netanyahu's saga of invective and threats against the judiciary, the Supreme Court and other watchdogs was more refined in style than that of Speaker Ohana – after all, it was a festive day for the Knesset – but the true spirit of Netanyahu's statements was reflected in an announcement made by Likud last Saturday night.

This was an aggressive, threatening and scary mixture of lies, vitriol, slanders, false accusations and incitement against the state prosecution, the courts, the attorney general and the police. All the garbage we've had thrown at us on Channel 14 and on social media was bundled into one announcement, crazy as a mercury-loaded hatter in Victorian times: it included the spyware! the (allegedly stolen by the attorney general's son) ceramic vest! "The blood libel" (regarding Qatar)! the "scandalous closing of ranks regarding the military advocate general's case and the people in the State Prosecutor's and Attorney General's office who were involved! A witch-hunt!

The statement ended with a sentence saying that "it's time to stop the corrupt crimes committed by the deep state!" The timing raised eyebrows. Is that what the ruler dealt with over the weekend, when tension in Israel regarding a possible American attack on Iran was at its height? Obviously, it was. One has to take into account the location and the participating characters. A weekend in Caesarea is bound to lead to trouble. Sara with her known issues together with their son Yair, both of them on the phone or on Zoom from Miami, with the Patriarch caught in the middle, absorbing the rage and screams.

The conspiracy theories are running wild, internal juices are bubbling, the madness is overflowing and words find their way onto the page (the style was Junior at his best), passed on to the party spokesman who issues the announcement as soon as Shabbat is over.

Shock and awe

Prosecutor Yehudit Tirosh officially announced this week that Netanyahu's cross-examination in the Bezeq-Walla case (aka Case 4000, dealing with alleged regulatory favors in exchange for friendly media coverage) and in Case 2000 (an alleged offer of an exchange of media-related favors with Yedioth Ahronoth owner Arnon Mozes) is expected to end near Passover, in less than two months (as published here last week). Tirosh's dry statement bears critical significance for defendant number one. Starting on April 1, he will no longer have to appear in court.

Other witnesses will be heard, and he may be summoned for further questioning by his own lawyer, but this should not take more than a few sessions. Thus, the main argument in Netanyahu's request for ending the trial, which he calls a "pardon," whereby a prime minister in wartime cannot waste his time on legal proceedings – will become redundant.

President Herzog said during his trip to Davos that the trial creates a negative atmosphere among Israel's public. If the cause for this negative atmosphere is no longer in the picture, the atmosphere should improve. So why grant him a pardon? Because the trial revolves around a Bugs Bunny doll? Because the whole indictment was fabricated? Because of the deep state?

The prosecutor's demarcation of this line did not surprise the defense lawyers. They know the material just like she does, and they know that the noose is tightening around their client's neck, with regard to the pardon and to the trial itself.

Case 2000 is a relatively simple one. The corrupt conversations between Netanyahu and Mozes were recorded. Mozes offered Netanyahu a bribe on the eve of the 2015 election. Instead of lodging a complaint with the police, as any honest person would, Netanyahu considered it, playing with the idea and taking further steps which makes one wonder why he too was not indicted for bribery by the previous attorney general, Avichai Mandelblit, who only indicted him for fraud and breach of trust.

"For us," a senior jurist told me, "this is the most serious case he's been charged with." This understanding, which is percolating through to the defendant and his family, is connected to the announcement from last Saturday night, which exceeded the disgusting standards we've grown accustomed to when it comes to them.

It reflected shock and fear and a piercing recognition that the game is nearing its end. This is the reason the deranged diatribe includes for the first time the expression: a "chokehold." "This witch-hunt (the investigation of ministers and members of Netanyahu's bureau) is designed to intimidate cabinet members, lawmakers and senior officials, creating a chokehold around people close to the prime minister." The reference is clear: state prosecutors and the police are Iran and its proxies; the latter have been dealt with, and may be addressed again. The former's turn will come, and their fate will be no better.

Now, the defendant's agenda is becoming more urgent. First, the attorney general must be neutralized or removed so that the trial can be cancelled. Therefore, in the coming weeks we can expect an acceleration of relevant legislation and related steps. These include the advancement of a law meant to break up the attorney general's role, which will make the current one, Gali Baharav-Miara, redundant, or lead her to resign.

It could also lead to the case of the military advocate general, which found no involvement of Baharav-Miara in leaking a video showing the abuse of a shackled prisoner or in the subsequent cover-up, and with Baharav-Miara summoned for questioning under caution, which would neutralize her. The decision now lies with the legal adviser at the Justice Ministry, Yael Kotick, who does the bidding of Justice Minister Yariv Levin, who is thirsty for the attorney general's blood.

Baharav-Miara is the prime and most urgent target for Netanyahu (and for Itamar Ben-Gvir, ahead of the petitions calling for his dismissal). All means for achieving this are fair game, as far as they're concerned, and they'll stop at nothing.