Last day of Netanyahu’s pre-indictment hearings focuses on cigars and champagne
The fourth and last day of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pre-indictment hearings before Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit focused on allegations he received expensive gifts from rich friends, possibly in return for various favours, constituting a form of bribery.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Photo: Hadas Frosch/Flash 90
Monday’s hearing touched on allegations that Netanyahu received expensive gifts from rich supporters, particularly from Israeli-born movie mogul Arnon Milchan, who supplied the Netanyahus with cigars, pink Champagne and Jewelry, allegedly in return for favours.
The gifts allegedly included hotel rooms for Yair Netanyahu paid for by Australian billionaire James Packer.
The first three days of the hearings focused on the Bezeq-Walla affair, known as Case 4000, and Case 2000.
Netanyahu’s attorneys claimed that the evidence consists of partial quotes and confessions that were made under extreme pressure, and do not constitute a strong enough case for the indictment of a sitting prime minister.
They further said that the gifts Netanyahu received were just that and were not part of a barter agreement.
They say they have presented arguments which “completely contradict” the allegations their client was faced with.
Netanyahu has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and called the allegations a witch hunt by a “hostile media” against him and his family.
