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within the yearslong corruption trial of Benjamin Netanyahu, Arnon Milchan, a Hollywood film mogul, billionaire spy and outdated buddy of the Israeli prime minister, took the stand on Sunday as a key witness for the prosecution in an alleged gifts-for-favors affair referred to as Case 1000.
In the opening hours of his testimony, Mr. Milchan described his relationship with Mr. Netanyahu as “close friends, almost brothers,” and confirmed that he had given cigars and Champagne to Mr. Netanyahu and his spouse, Sara. Much of the case hinges on whether or not such items got in friendship or in return for favors, and that can more than likely 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, on trial in three separate however interlocking corruption circumstances, 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 “Pretty Woman,” “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.
According to prosecutors, Mr. Milchan lavished Mr. and Ms. Netanyahu with items price lots of of 1000’s of {dollars} from 2011 to 2016, largely within the type of bins 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 United States 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 Netanyahu has argued that there’s nothing unlawful about receiving items from an outdated buddy.
In his testimony on Sunday, in line with reviews from the courtroom in Jerusalem, Mr. Milchan described his shut relationship with Mr. Netanyahu and the way they’d focus on historical past and economics. Mr. Milchan mentioned he had been helping Israel in safety issues from the Sixties up till right now, including, “I cannot elaborate on how many things Netanyahu and I did, secretly, for the country.”
The deliveries of cigars and Champagne, which had come to mild in earlier testimony, from Mr. Milchan’s private assistant in Israel, Hadas Klein, amounted to what prosecutors have described as “a sort of supply channel.” Mr. Milchan mentioned on Sunday that the gift-giving had begun at his initiative, however that later it grew to become routine and at instances got here in response to requests. He mentioned that he and the Netanyahus had code names for the items, referring to cigars as “leaves” and the Champagne as “pinks.”
Mr. Milchan mentioned that he additionally had purchased shirts for Mr. Netanyahu, initially out of sartorial concern for the prime minister, after which on request. On event, Ms. Netanyahu acquired jewellery, too, the court docket has heard.
At one level within the Case 1000 investigation, Mr. Milchan was suspected by the Israeli police of bribery, however Israel’s legal professional basic 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 may have the ability to 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 items and Mr. Netanyahu’s actions on Mr. Milchan’s behalf.
Mr. Milchan is testifying from Brighton, England, by way of a video convention hyperlink to the Jerusalem District Court.
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 attorneys had 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 not less than six years, in line with court docket paperwork, since he was interrogated by the Israeli police investigating Mr. Netanyahu’s corruption case.
Mr. Milchan is testifying from a corridor within the Old Ship Hotel in Brighton that was rented by the Israeli authorities for the event. Reporters and members of the general public weren’t allowed in, however Ms. Netanyahu was within the corridor, representing the defendant — her husband.
Mr. Netanyahu adopted the primary day of the proceedings on a display within the courtroom in Jerusalem.
The scene in Brighton.
Just a few dozen Israelis gathered on Sunday exterior the Brighton resort to protest towards Ms. Netanyahu. One was wearing a Marie Antoinette-style interval costume, with a show of desserts and pink-labeled Champagne bottles.
Inside the improvised courtroom, Mr. Milchan defined that he had not been in Israel for six years due to the “mess” and to be able to keep away from the native news media frenzy.
Over time, he mentioned, the portions of the items for the Netanyahus grew, “at the request of those receiving them.”
Mr. Milchan mentioned he had been anxious that issues had been going too far relating to a bit of bijou that Ms. Netanyahu needed, and he mentioned that he had urged Mr. Netanyahu to examine with Israel’s legal professional basic to verify it could not create issues. Mr. Netanyahu assured him that there was no drawback, he mentioned.
At one level, the state’s legal professional, Liat Ben-Ari, appearing for the prosecution, complained that Ms. Netanyahu was making fixed eye contact with the witness, Mr. Milchan, and emphasised that it was forbidden to “make faces” at him or to attempt to convey messages.
Mr. Netanyahu’s lawyer, Amit Hadad, interjected that Ms. Ben-Ari should have eyes at the back of her head to be following Ms. Netanyahu’s facial actions. Mr. Milchan, for his half, mentioned that the listening to was turning right into a comedy and that he may make a collection out of it.
The listening to, scheduled to final six hours, adjourned a half-hour early, after Mr. Milchan mentioned that he was shedding his focus.
Friend or foe?
According to 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 wherein Mr. Netanyahu thanked Mr. Milchan and described him as “my brother,” including, “You are my rock in a storm.”
Asked within the documentary if he thought of Mr. Netanyahu a buddy, Mr. Milchan replied, “Yes, absolutely.”
It was not instantly clear if Mr. Milchan’s testimony would assist exonerate or doom Mr. Netanyahu.
Mr. Netanyahu has argued that he was certain to assist Mr. Milchan together with his U.S. visa due to Mr. Milchan’s contributions to Israel’s nationwide safety and to the American economic system.
But Ms. Klein, Mr. Milchan’s private assistant in Israel, mentioned in her court docket testimony final 12 months that Mr. Milchan had grew to become more and more involved in regards to the expense and legality of offering the Netanyahus with a gentle provide of luxurious items.
Asked if the Netanyahus reciprocated with items, Ms. Klein testified that she and Mr. Milchan as soon as acquired key rings from the Netanyahus with some sort of prime ministerial emblem on them and that Ms. Netanyahu had from time to time purchased presents from an Israeli toy retailer for Mr. Milchan’s younger kids.
Source: www.nytimes.com