Probe into Bibi’s dealings deepens
The Prime Minister has reportedly been recorded trying to cut a deal that could have made his arch nemesis millions of shekels.
Even Israelis, so accustomed to political scandals, have been shocked by the latest claims against Benjamin Netanyahu. The Prime Minister has reportedly been recorded trying to cut a deal that could have made his arch nemesis millions of shekels.
For years, Netanyahu has seen Noni Mozes, publisher of the daily Yediot Ahronot, as the spikiest thorn in his side. He once called him the “main source behind the wave of slander against me and against my wife,” saying that he was smearing them and trying to bring down Likud and move Israel to the left.
Now, in a dramatic twist, Mozes is said to be entangled with Netanyahu in a story of shady dealings between the two of them, talk of which is giving them both a battering in the eyes of Israelis.
Netanyahu is under investigation by police for suspected corruption, and was questioned by officers twice last week, though he repeatedly claimed that he has done no wrong. The case looks set to raise questions about the relationship between Netanyahu and a number of businessmen, including Australian tycoon and family friend James Packer.
Reports have suggested that Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan has given Netanyahu expensive gifts and had his visa needs for the US discussed by Netanyahu with US Secretary of State John Kerry.
On Channel 10 on Sunday, it was reported that a system was in place for providing the Netanyahus with gourmet meals, champagne and cigars at the businessmen’s expense.
Amid a slew of reports, claims surfaced on Sunday that investigators have recordings of Netanyahu trying to reach an agreement with Mozes.
Netanyahu was allegedly offering to rein in the operations of Israel Hayom, the newspaper that is seen as his mouthpiece and which is run by his friend and patron Sheldon Adelson, if Mozes stopped panning him in Yediot and started giving him favourable coverage instead.
In the latest version of events, published by Haaretz just before The AJN went to press, it is claimed that Netanyahu was promising to promote legislation to put a stop to copies of Israel Hayom being given away and forcing it to charge, inevitably making it far less widely read. Such a law would have restored Yediot’s market dominance and boosted its profits.
Mozes had reportedly said that he would make coverage of the Prime Minister more positive, doing, in Haaretz’s words, “everything so that Netanyahu would stay in power as long as he wanted” – and also offered to let Netanyahu hand-pick some journalists.
Opposition leader Isaac Herzog is claiming that the scandal backs up the suspicions of his party that Netanyahu controls Israel Hayom, and said that he must resign as Communications Minister (a post he holds alongside Prime Minister and Foreign Minister) or he will petition the High Court to force him out. Meretz Chairwoman Zehava Galon has called on the police to release tapes of the conversation for the public good.
NATHAN JEFFAY
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