Australian Ties: Packer Allegedly Funded Netanyahu Defense

A new report alleges that Australian billionaire James Packer sent at least $1.25 million to the law firm representing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The funds allegedly arrived as monthly wire transfers over the past two years. The story broke Monday via The Sydney Morning Herald, though the figures have not yet been independently confirmed.

The newspaper states the money moved from a Citibank account belonging to Packer's company, Consolidated Press International. It was deposited into an account at Bank Mizrahi Tefahot held by the Tel Aviv firm Hadad Roth Shenhar. The first transfer occurred on September 23, 2024. Each monthly payment was valued at $50,000.

Packer's representatives told the paper the transfers covered work done by Packer. This included finding investment deals in Israel. They claimed the payments had nothing to do with the prime minister's criminal trial. The Herald asked for evidence of such deals or specific work by the firm. Neither Packer nor his company replied by the time the article went to print.

Amit Hadad, Netanyahu's defense attorney, did not answer the newspaper's questions. He also refused to address the matter at the Jerusalem District Court. Evidentiary-stage hearings continue there. A spokesman for Netanyahu responded to the report with a blunt message. He said he could not give a monkey's about the questions because the team was very busy with the current election.

The report lands on the eve of Israeli elections, while the trial is still underway. Packer is already linked to Case 1000 of the trial. In that case, prosecutors accuse Netanyahu of accepting gifts from Packer and businessman Arnon Milchan. Packer is not a defendant in the case.

Prosecutors argue the gifts were more than occasional presents. They contend the items became a regular supply line. The indictment states that gifts to Netanyahu and his wife totaled about 690,000 new Israeli shekels. These were mostly cigars and champagne. The specific gifts from Packer amounted to 229,174 shekels. This included 145,577 shekels in cigars and 83,597 shekels in champagne.

The trial began in May 2020 and covers three cases. Netanyahu faces fraud and breach-of-trust charges in all three. He also faces a bribery charge in Case 4000. That case concerns alleged regulatory benefits for the Bezeq company. Netanyahu denies wrongdoing in all matters.