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In one of many extra dramatic moments within the yearslong corruption trial of Benjamin Netanyahu, Arnon Milchan, a Hollywood film mogul, billionaire spy and outdated good friend of the Israeli prime minister, took the stand on Sunday to testify as a key witness for the prosecution in an alleged gifts-for-favors affair referred to as Case 1000.
Within the opening hours of his testimony, Mr. Milchan described his relationship with Mr. Netanyahu as “shut associates, virtually brothers,” and confirmed that he had given cigars and Champagne to Mr. Netanyahu and his spouse, Sara. A lot of the case hinges on whether or not such presents got in friendship or in return for favors, and that may probably be the main target of the questioning throughout Mr. Milchan’s testimony and cross-examination, which is predicted to take about 10 days.
Mr. Netanyahu, who’s on trial in three separate however interlocking corruption instances, has been charged with fraud and breach of belief within the case involving Mr. Milchan. Mr. Netanyahu has denied all wrongdoing. If convicted, he might face jail time.
Mr. Milchan, 78, who produced blockbusters like “Fairly Lady,” “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” and “Bohemian Rhapsody,” additionally labored for years for Israeli intelligence as a weapons procurer. His colourful life and relationship with Mr. Netanyahu has helped turned the Case 1000 trial right into a showcase of the nexus of cash, energy and affect in Israel.
A star position.
In line with prosecutors, Mr. Milchan lavished Mr. and Mrs. Netanyahu with presents value a whole bunch of hundreds of {dollars} from 2011 to 2016, largely within the type of packing containers of pricey cigars and pink Champagne delivered by the crate to the prime minister’s official residence in Jerusalem and to his personal family within the seaside city of Caesarea.
Mr. Netanyahu, who was prime minister then, as he’s now, is accused of getting intervened with American officers to assist Mr. Milchan renew his 10-year visa to the US and of pushing for the extension of a tax-exemption regulation and for a telecoms merger that prosecutors say would each have been to Mr. Milchan’s profit.
Mr. Netanyahu has argued that there’s nothing unlawful about receiving presents from an outdated good friend.
In his testimony on Sunday, in line with stories from the courtroom in Jerusalem, Mr. Milchan described his shut relationship with Mr. Netanyahu and the way they might focus on historical past and economics collectively. Mr. Milchan stated he had been helping Israel in safety issues from the Nineteen Sixties up till right this moment, including, “I can’t elaborate on what number of issues Netanyahu and I did, secretly, for the nation.”
The deliveries of cigars and Champagne, which had come to gentle in earlier testimony, from Mr. Milchan’s private assistant in Israel, Hadas Klein, amounted to what prosecutors have described as “a form of provide channel.” Every so often, Ms. Netanyahu obtained jewellery, too, the courtroom has heard.
Mr. Milchan stated on Sunday that the gift-giving had begun at his personal initiative, however that later it grew to become routine and at occasions got here in response to requests. He stated that he and the Netanyahus had code names for the presents, referring to cigars as “leaves” and the Champagne as “pinks.”
At one level within the Case 1000 investigation, Mr. Milchan was suspected by the Israeli police of bribery, however Israel’s legal professional common discovered no grounds to cost him with any crime.
Mr. Milchan’s testimony is taken into account essential to the case as a result of he would possibly be capable of enlighten the judges in regards to the nature of his relationship with Mr. Netanyahu and whether or not there was a transparent hyperlink between the presents and Mr. Netanyahu’s actions on Mr. Milchan’s behalf.
Mr. Milchan is testifying from Brighton, England, through a video convention hyperlink to the Jerusalem District Courtroom.
Why testify from England?
The courts gave Mr. Milchan particular permission to testify remotely from the English seaside resort of Brighton, close to the place he’s at present residing, after his legal professionals cited medical grounds for his refusal to journey to Israel.
Mr. Milchan owns an property and different property in Israel and has declared himself pleased with his contributions to the nation’s safety, however he has not set foot within the nation for at the least six years, in line with courtroom paperwork, since he was interrogated by the Israeli police investigating Mr. Netanyahu’s corruption case.
Mr. Milchan is testifying from a corridor within the Outdated Ship Resort in Brighton that was rented by the Israeli authorities for the event. Reporters and members of the general public weren’t allowed in, however Sara Netanyahu, Mr. Netanyahu’s spouse, was within the corridor, representing her husband.
Mr. Netanyahu was anticipated to observe the proceedings on a display screen within the courtroom in Jerusalem.
Good friend or foe?
In line with prosecutors, Mr. Milchan’s relationship with Mr. Netanyahu dates to 1999. An Israeli documentary program about Mr. Milchan that aired a decade in the past confirmed a framed letter signed by Mr. Netanyahu to Mr. Milchan in 2009 through which Mr. Netanyahu thanked Mr. Milchan and described him as “my brother,” including, “You might be my rock in a storm.”
Requested within the documentary if he thought-about Mr. Netanyahu a good friend, Mr. Milchan replied, “Sure, completely.”
It was not instantly clear if Mr. Milchan’s testimony would assist exonerate or doom Mr. Netanyahu.
Mr. Netanyahu has argued that he was sure to assist Mr. Milchan along with his U.S. visa due to Mr. Milchan’s contributions to Israel’s nationwide safety and to the American financial system.
However Ms. Klein, Mr. Milchan’s private assistant in Israel, stated in her courtroom testimony final yr that Mr. Milchan had grew to become more and more involved in regards to the expense and legality of offering the Netanyahus with a gradual provide of luxurious items.
Requested if the Netanyahus reciprocated with presents, Ms. Klein testified that she and Mr. Milchan as soon as obtained key rings from the Netanyahus with some type of prime ministerial emblem on them and that Ms. Netanyahu had once in a while purchased presents from an Israeli toy retailer for Mr. Milchan’s younger kids.
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