Netanyahu Defense Finances: $1.25 Million Wired From Packer Firm

The law firm defending Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received at least $1.25 million from the company of Australian billionaire James Packer, according to a report published Monday. The funds moved in monthly wire transfers of $50,000 over the past two years, starting September 23, 2024.

The report, published by The Sydney Morning Herald, identifies the source as the Citibank account of Packer's company, Consolidated Press International. The money went to an account at Bank Mizrahi Tefahot held by the Tel Aviv firm Hadad Roth Shenhar. The newspaper stated it could not independently confirm that Netanyahu personally benefited from these payments.

A source familiar with Packer's financial affairs told the Herald that the transfers covered work Packer performed, such as locating investment deals in Israel, and were unrelated to the prime minister's trial. The newspaper later requested evidence of such deals or work by the firm, but neither Packer nor his company had replied by the time of publication.

Packer declined to comment when approached by the Herald, though the paper noted he did not deny the payments. Amit Hadad, a defense attorney for Netanyahu, did not answer the newspaper's questions. At the Jerusalem District Court, where evidentiary hearings continue, Hadad also refused to address the matter directly.

A spokesman for Netanyahu responded to the inquiry with a terse remark: "I couldn't give a monkey's about your questions. We are very busy. We have an election on right now." The report surfaced on the eve of Israeli elections while the trial remains ongoing.

Packer is linked to Case 1000 of the trial, where prosecutors allege Netanyahu accepted gifts from Packer and businessman Arnon Milchan. The indictment claims these gifts, primarily cigars and champagne, totaled about 690,000 shekels. The allegations involving Packer cover the period from 2014 to 2016, with his specific gifts valued at 229,174 shekels. Hadas Klein, who worked for both men, was a key witness regarding the delivery of these items.

The trial began in May 2020 and encompasses three cases involving alleged gifts and dealings with media owners. Netanyahu faces fraud and breach-of-trust charges in all three, along with a bribery charge in Case 4000 concerning alleged regulatory benefits for Bezeq. He denies all wrongdoing.