Try to imagine former US President Barack Obama and his two daughters, former US President Donald Trump and his wife packed into a tiny Washington courtroom for a hearing on a defamation suit focused on Trump’s mental health and that of his family. That is exactly what happened in Tel Aviv on Jan. 10.
Packed into the small courtroom of Magistrate's Court Judge Yariv Amit were former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his lawyers, and former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his wife Sara Netanyahu and their son Yair, along with their lawyer. The rest of the limited space was taken up by photographers and television news crews.
The hearing dealt with a 837,000 Israeli shekel ($268,000) lawsuit filed by the Netanyahu family against Olmert for describing them as being “mentally ill” in several TV interviews. The judge tried to convince the sides to accept a compromise and avoid a trial, arguing that the evidentiary phase of such a procedure would turn into a circus.
The judge is right. It would be the best show in town. Neither side will emerge unscathed, not those said to be mentally ill, nor the claimant. But the enmity and hatred between the two former prime ministers have overtaken all logic. Olmert rejected the proposed compromise and as things stand now the trial will proceed. It might be wise to invest in popcorn stocks.
AL-MONITOR All-Access gives you unlimited access to all our journalism, the full Daily Briefing, exclusive interviews, premium newsletters, and live events — for less than $2/week.
