Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is expected to be questioned by police again on June 12, Channel 10 News reported on Friday evening.
According to the report, Netanyahu is expected to be questioned three or four more times in Case 1000, Case 2000 and Case 4000.
Case 1000 revolves around claims Netanyahu received gifts from a Hollywood billionaire and Australian businessman in exchange for political favor. Case 2000 revolves around allegations Netanyahu tried to reach an agreement with Yediot Aharonot publisher Arnon Mozes that would provide him with positive news coverage in exchange for shuttering rival newspaper Israel Hayom. Case 4000 centers on suspicions that a Netanyahu aide provided chief Bezeq shareholder Shaul Elovitch with regulatory benefits in exchange for sympathetic coverage to the prime minister and his wife on the Walla! news website, which is owned by Elovitch as well.
According to Friday’s report, state witness Nir Hefetz told police investigators that during a trip to Manhattan, the wife of Prime Minister Sarah Netanyahu received credit cards with which bought gifts for herself.
Specifically in Case 4000, reports revealed that Hefetz testified to the police that he “spoke to Elovitch six to seven times a day” when he served as Netanyahu’s adviser.
Moreover, Hefetz related that during a visit to Manhattan by the Netanyahu family, wealthy Jews gave Sara Netanyahu credit cards with which to buy herself gifts.
A statement released on behalf of the prime minister said: “These are total lies regarding the Netanyahu-Elovitch relations. The false and malicious claim that the prime minister and his wife used friends’ credit cards is also false. This never happened.”
Hefez turned state’s evidence and gave police text messages and recordings. These allegedly suggest an improper quid pro quo relationship between the Netanyahus and Elovitch, whose Bezeq corporation owns the Walla news website.
According to Channel 10 News, one of the text messages was sent by Sara Netanyahu to Elovitch’s wife a day after the prime minister had approved the merger deal between the satellite television company Yes and Bezeq, which benefitted the giant telecommunication corporation. Sara Netanyahu allegedly expressed resentment over the Walla site’s coverage of the couple, despite the prime minister’s approval of the deal. Last Friday Haaretz reported that, in one of the recordings, Elovitch said: “I understand he was willing to commit suicide for me,” in describing the governmental assistance Bezeq received from Netanyahu, although Elovitch denies that he was referring to the prime minister.
Israeli officials said the prosecution saw a significant link between the cases 2000 and 4000, yet the police have not yet made their recommendations yet.
