Israeli police recommend charging Benjamin Netanyahu over corruption

Benjamin Netanyahu faces alleged bribery and fraud charges including case allegedly involving donations from James Packer.

Benjamin Netanyahu is facing corruption charges. Picture: AFP.

Israeli police have recommended charging Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged bribery cases, including one allegedly involving donations from casino billionaire James Packer.

A police statement said there was enough evidence to indict the Prime Minister for bribery, fraud and breach of trust in two separate cases which they have been investigating for months.

In one probe, known as Case 1000, Mr Netanyahu reportedly received over $100,000 in gifts from Hollywood mogul Arnon Milchan and other wealthy supporters including Mr Packer. His wife allegedly received bottles of pink champagne.

The gifts were reportedly worth some tens of thousands of dollars.

In November Australian Federal Police interviewed Mr Packer as part of the probe. Police were reportedly looking into whether Mr Netanyahu tried to help Mr Packer gain residency in Israel.

Israeli media have previously reported that Mr Packer paid for luxury hotel accommodation enjoyed by Mr Netanyahu’s son, Yair, during a visit to the UN General Assembly in New York.

Mr Packer also reportedly gave Mr Netanyahu’s wife, Sara, 10 tickets to a concert performance by his then-girlfriend, pop singer Mariah Carey.

A spokesman for Mr Packer this morning said: “There is no allegation of wrongdoing on Mr Packer’s behalf – the Israeli and Australian police have confirmed that he was interviewed as a witness, not a suspect.”

In the second investigation, named Case 2000, police probed allegations that Mr Netanyahu sought a secret deal for favourable coverage with the publisher of top-selling newspaper Yediot Aharonot in exchange for reining in a free pro-Netanyahu daily.

James Packer and John Alexander, the Executive Chairman of Crown Resorts, arrive to attend the Crown Resorts annual general meeting in October last year.

Police had questioned Mr Netanyahu over the corruption allegations last month.

Mr Netanyahu has dismissed the allegations, saying the police recommendation to charge him “will end with nothing.”

In a nationwide TV address, a stern-looking Mr Netanyahu said state prosecutors would determine the charges “overblown.”

“All my life I have worked to one goal: to secure Israel and its future, “ Mr. Netanyahu said in the address. “I feel a great responsibility to continue to lead Israel in a way that will secure its future.”

He accused police of being on a witch hunt against him and vowed to remain in office.

The police recommendations now go to the Attorney-General, who will decide whether to press charges.

The reported recommendations do not immediately threaten the Israeli Prime Minister, but they are deeply embarrassing and could fuel calls for him to step aside.

The billionaire and the PM

James Packer is one of several wealthy businessmen Israeli police questioned about expensive gifts allegedly given to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his family, including champagne, hotel rooms, meals and cigars. Israeli police investigated whether Mr Netanyahu pushed certain projects and new laws to benefit Mr Packer and Israeli billionaire Arnon Milchan. There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Mr Packer.

* Friendship forms: Mr Packer struck up a close friendship with Mr Netanyahu in 2014 after the pair were introduced by mutual friend, Arnon Milchan, a major Hollywood producer. The Australian billionaire later bought a waterfront home next door to the Israeli PM’s private beachfront home in Caesarea and was a special guest at speeches delivered by Mr Netanyahu to the US Congress and UN General Assembly in New York in 2015.

* Glittering gifts: Israeli police believe Mr Packer gave gifts worth $US71,000 to Mr Netanyahu, his wife Sara and their son Yair. In 2016 Israeli TV network Channel 10 aired claims that Mrs Netanyhau received 10 tickets to see Mr Packer’s then girlfriend Mariah Carey in concert. Mr Packer is also claimed to have allowed Yair to stay in his Tel Aviv apartment, lent him his private jet to go on holiday, and picked up his luxury hotel bills in New York and Aspen, Colorado.

Mr Milchan, who produced hit movies including LA Confidential and 12 Years A Slave, and The Big Short, was questioned by police about $US214,000 worth of gifts, including cigars and champagne, he gave the Netanyahus.

* Question time: Mr Packer was interviewed by Australian Federal Police in Melbourne in December 2016 after requests from Israeli investigators. He reportedly described Mr Netanyahu as a friend and said the gifts were organised by Mr Milchan’s assistant. Mr Netanyahu later reportedly told investigators he had “now and again” asked Mr Packer to “bring me something to Israel from abroad”. Israeli police do not allege any wrongdoing by Mr Packer. But in a statement they said they had concluded there was sufficient evidence against the prime minister regarding fraud and breach of trust in connection with Mr Packer, and accepting bribes, fraud and breach of trust regarding Mr Milchan. * RESIDENCY BID Interior Minister Aryeh Deri in January 2017 confirmed Mr Packer’s lawyer asked him about the possibility of obtaining citizenship or residency for the billionaire in Israel, despite the fact he is not Jewish. Mr Packer reportedly registered with Israel’s tax office, a prerequisite to applying for residency, in 2016.

* “Not worried at all”: Mr Netanyahu has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. During his first state visit to Australia in February 2017 he insisted nothing would come of the police investigation into his ties with Mr Packer as there was “nothing there, except friendship”. “No I’m not worried at all. Not at all,” he told reporters. While Mr Netanyahu and his family have not denied accepting gifts, they have insisted they weren’t bribes.

* Next steps: Attorney-General Avihai Mendelblit will review the material gathered by police before deciding whether Mr Netanyahu should be charged, a process that could take several months.