Joe.My.God. LGBT News
The Jerusalem Post reports:
Arnon “Noni” Mozes, publisher of Israel’s Yedioth Ahronot newspaper, is reportedly at the center of the corruption investigation against Prime Benjamin Netanyahu. According to a Channel 2 report on Sunday, Mozes sought to receive financial benefits for Yedioth Ahronoth and possibly the closure of Israel Hayom‘s weekend edition newspaper in exchange for favorable coverage. Israel Hayom is owned by Netanyahu confidant and US billionaire Sheldon Adelson.
The latest alleged development came after reports police obtained an audio recording of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in which the premier is heard negotiating mutual benefits with a businessman, thus substantiating the ongoing criminal investigation against Netanyahu.
According to a report in Haaretz released on Sunday, Netanyahu could be heard in the recording negotiating a businessman’s support to help him remain in office in exchange for “huge financial benefits.” The prime minister has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in the police investigation and a police spokeswoman declined to comment on the report.
The recording reportedly could underpin the police’s “Case 2000” against to Netanyahu. The details of the case remain vague. Speaking at a Likud faction meeting later on Sunday morning, Netanyahu denied the accumulating allegations against him.
More from YNet News:
Netanyahu was questioned twice last week by the Israel Police on two separate issues. The central line of inquiry has not yet been made public, but the secondary one features Hollywood businessman Arnon Milchan prominently.
Channel 10 reported on Saturday evening that Netanyahu spoke to US Secretary of State John Kerry three times in 2014 to ask him to sort out a problem with Milchan’s work visa. According to Channel 10, the visa issue was indeed handled.
Netanyahu is under investigation for, inter alia, accepting illicit gifts from the Hollywood mogul. Channel 2 journalist Amnon Abramovitch reported on Thursday that Netanyahu has received hundreds of thousands of shekels worth of cigars and pink champagne from the businessman.
Abramovitch stated that Milchan had been providing the cigars to Netanyahu for 7 to 8 years, though those close to the prime minister claim that the gifts were not intended as bribes. On Friday, Netanyahu’s lawyer, Yaakov Weinroth, spoke to the press, insisting there is no substance to allegations the prime minister improperly accepted gifts.
Milchan has been a producer for many Hollywood hits including Pretty Woman and 12 Years A Slave. His personal art collection is valued at more than $2 billion.