How cigars and champagne led to Netanyahu and Packer friendship

Fresh details of James Packer’s love of Israel and flirtation with Judaism have been published ahead of his evidence at the corruption trial of PM Benjamin Netanyahu.

Billionaire James Packer dropped to his knees and kissed the feet of former Israeli President Shimon Peres when he visited the Aussie casino tycoon at his new home outside Tel Aviv.

Fresh details of the 53-year-old tycoon’s love of Israel, flirtation with Judaism and his increasingly fragile mental state have been published in Israel ahead of Packer’s evidence at the corruption trial of his friend and neighbour, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israeli magazine Haaretz drew on witness testimony to describe how Netanyahu seduced Packer from his first visit in 2013 and persuaded him to buy the mansion next-door to his own and then used it as though he owned it.

Netanyahu, known as Bibi and now facing an end to his 15-year rule, had his own key and access to the crates of champagne stored in the gymnasium for his wife Sara.

Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu greets supporters after a political event on on March 24. Picture: Amir Levy/Getty Images

Gifts from Packer are at the centre of Netanyahu‘s current bribery and fraud trial.

“I brought him a cigar cutter, a lighter and an ashtray, I made him espresso and he’s lounging on the veranda,” the magazine said Packer’s housekeeper wrote to his staff about one of the prime minister’s forays into the house. “I brought him a Romeo cigar.”

Packer was host to a cavalcade of big name guests including former PM Peres, whose feet he kissed, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, then Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop and Wolf of Wall Street Jordan Belfort. He looked at becoming a citizen.

Ari Harow, Netanyahu’s bureau chief at the time, said: “It was clear that the relationship from his (Netanyahu’s) point of view was in order to benefit from this friendship.”

But he was also concerned about Packer’s drinking and mental state. “One time when he came for a meeting he threw up – I don’t remember whether it was before or after,” Harow testified

Netanyahu gave evidence that he did not notice anything amiss.

“There was tremendous chemistry forged between us. He decided that I’m the most impressive person he met. He brought his first girlfriend here (model Miranda Kerr) and afterwards his second girlfriend (singer Mariah Carey). A deep bond formed between us. He told me I was the person dearest to him,” Netanyahu said.

James Packer in Melbourne last year. Picture: Aaron Francis/The Australian

James Packer and Mariah Carey in New York in 2016. Picture: Brent N. Clarke/FilmMagic

Israeli film producer Arnon Milchan introduced Packer to National Security Chief Yossi Cohen, who Packer called “James Bond” and “No 1 Spy.”

Packer tried to hire Cohen to run a cyber security company but was struggling with the pressure. “We were in the Savoy Hotel in London – myself, Yossi Cohen and Packer,” Milchan testified. “And then, in the middle of the street he (Packer) suddenly broke into tears and cried about his situation.”

Instead Cohen was appointed to head Mossad, the Israeli secret service in 2015.

The Haaretz article said Netanyahu’s real aim for Packer was to get him to buy an Israeli media outlet that constantly criticised the prime minister and his wife.

Packer went to meet the owner with an offer to buy him out and was carefully briefed beforehand. Chief of staff Harow said: “Bibi went into minute details with him, and Sara also took part in that briefing.”

It did not go well and after reporting back to the Netanyahu’s Packer returned to his hotel in tears and told his personal assistant Hadas Klein: “Sara Netanyahu shouted at me.”

Israeli President Shimon Peres. Picture: AFP

“He took it really hard,” Klein told investigators. “He very much admired them and loved them, and he’s a sensitive guy. A good soul with a huge heart, who needs warmth and love.

“In the morning we took him to the airport and he threw up violently from the pressure.”

In 2016 Packer went to the United States and had a nervous breakdown. Milchin persuaded Netanyahu to summon him to Israel so that he could receive support and care. The magazine said at the time he arrived Packer’s paranoia was so great that he thought his plane was going to be shot down by US missiles because of his friendship with Donald Trump.

Packer left Israel for the last time in October 2016 as the corruption investigation into Netanyahu began. He is expected to give testimony at the trial by videolink in the coming months.

He is also under pressure in Australia to hang on to his shares in his Crown casino empire in the face of two royal commissions that are investigating money laundering allegations.