{
  "id": 7495243,
  "title": "European Parliament to screen 'The Bibi Files' ahead of Israel's 2026 Knesset election",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/european-parliament-to-screen-the-bibi-files-ahead-of-israels-2026",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-15T07:12:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-908615"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The European Parliament in Brussels will screen the documentary film \"The Bibi Files\" on September 29, 2025, prior to Israel's Knesset election. This screening will occur four weeks before the Israeli election campaign takes place.\n\nThe film, directed by Alexis Bloom and produced by Oscar winner Alex Gibney and Israeli journalist Raviv Drucker, delves into the investigations surrounding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The basis for the documentary includes over 1,000 hours of footage from Netanyahu's police interrogations, which took place between 2016 and 2018. This footage was obtained by the film's director, Alex Gibney, from an anonymous source via the Signal messaging application in 2023.\n\nThe documentary features Netanyahu, his wife Sara, his son Yair, and other individuals questioned during the investigations. The film portrays Netanyahu during his interrogations, discussing matters such as receiving gifts from businessmen and his connections with influential individuals and media organizations.\n\nIn addition to the police footage, the documentary incorporates interviews with people familiar with Netanyahu and the political system surrounding him. These include former aide and state witness Nir Hefetz, former Shin Bet director Ami Ayalon, former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and others.\n\n\"The Bibi Files\" is critical of Netanyahu and utilizes the leaked interrogation materials to present a political interpretation of his leadership. The film expands the discussion to encompass significant developments in Israel during Netanyahu's tenure, including political alliances, judicial reform, and the conduct of his governments during wartime. The filmmakers' opinions, rather than established facts, are presented in the documentary.\n\nBenjamin Netanyahu denies the allegations against him and claims that the cases are a result of political persecution and selective enforcement. The screening at the European Parliament is not an official event and does not represent the Parliament or the European Union.",
  "summary": "The Bibi Files is based on footage from Netanyahu's police interrogations, which were leaked to film director Alex Gibney in 2023. The materials require court approval for release in Israel.",
  "key_points": [
    "European Parliament to screen documentary \"The Bibi Files\" on September 29, 2025",
    "Documentary explores investigations into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu",
    "Film includes over 1,000 hours of police interrogation footage"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The European Parliament's screening of The Bibi Files ahead of Israel's 2026 Knesset election signals potential EU lawmakers' interest in scrutinizing Netanyahu's leadership, critical of him in the documentary.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "Trains to run on special schedule ahead of Yom Kippur, Israel Railways announces",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/trains-to-run-on-special-schedule-ahead-of-yom-kippur-israel-railways",
        "published": "2026-09-15T02:28:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}