Police Question Israeli PM Netanyahu Over Alleged Corruption

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was questioned by
police on Thursday evening in connection with two separate
investigations into alleged corruption, a police statement
said.
“We confirm that the prime minister was questioned today for
several hours at his Jerusalem residence,” the Hebrew language
statement said adding, that the interrogation was carried out by
detectives of national fraud and serious crimes squad.

It gave no further details. Israeli media said that the
detectives arrived at the house shortly before 5.00 pm (1500 GMT)
and left about four hours later.

Netanyahu has previously been questioned four times as part of
the investigations.

He is suspected to have received luxury gifts from wealthy
supporters, including Israeli businessman and Hollywood producer
Arnon Milchan, a longtime friend who reportedly sent boxes of
expensive cigars and other items with a value of tens of thousands
of dollars.

Milchan was again questioned in September.

The second affair over which Netanyahu has faced police
questioning involves suspicions he sought a secret deal for
favourable coverage with the publisher of top-selling daily Yediot
Aharonot.

The alleged deal, not believed to have been finalised, would
have seen Netanyahu receive positive coverage in return for helping
curb Yediot’s competitor, the pro-Netanyahu freesheet Israel
Hayom.

Netanyahu has consistently denied any wrongdoing and says he has
been the target of a campaign by political opponents.

Earlier in the week, Netanyahu confidants Yitzhak Molcho and
David Shimron, partners in a law firm and both relatives of the
premier, were questioned by police as part of a probe into
suspected corruption around the purchase of German submarines.

Netanyahu himself has not been named as a suspect in the
submarine case.

AFP

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was questioned by
police on Thursday evening in connection with two separate
investigations into alleged corruption, a police statement
said.
“We confirm that the prime minister was questioned today for
several hours at his Jerusalem residence,” the Hebrew language
statement said adding, that the interrogation was carried out by
detectives of national fraud and serious crimes squad.

It gave no further details. Israeli media said that the
detectives arrived at the house shortly before 5.00 pm (1500 GMT)
and left about four hours later.

Netanyahu has previously been questioned four times as part of
the investigations.

He is suspected to have received luxury gifts from wealthy
supporters, including Israeli businessman and Hollywood producer
Arnon Milchan, a longtime friend who reportedly sent boxes of
expensive cigars and other items with a value of tens of thousands
of dollars.

Milchan was again questioned in September.

The second affair over which Netanyahu has faced police
questioning involves suspicions he sought a secret deal for
favourable coverage with the publisher of top-selling daily Yediot
Aharonot.

The alleged deal, not believed to have been finalised, would
have seen Netanyahu receive positive coverage in return for helping
curb Yediot’s competitor, the pro-Netanyahu freesheet Israel
Hayom.

Netanyahu has consistently denied any wrongdoing and says he has
been the target of a campaign by political opponents.

Earlier in the week, Netanyahu confidants Yitzhak Molcho and
David Shimron, partners in a law firm and both relatives of the
premier, were questioned by police as part of a probe into
suspected corruption around the purchase of German submarines.

Netanyahu himself has not been named as a suspect in the
submarine case.

AFP