Renowned Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan has recently testified in Israeli court as a key witness in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial.
The testimony is expected to continue for several days.
Prosecutors allege that Netanyahu received gifts worth nearly 700,000 shekels, including champagne and cigars, from Milchan and an Australian billionaire. Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing in this case and two other cases being heard in the same trial.
The prime minister is accused of providing assistance to Milchan in his business interests and U.S. visa status. Netanyahu has dismissed the gift-giving as normal behavior among friends and claims that his trial is a political witch-hunt.
Accusations have also been made against Netanyahu, alleging that he assisted Milchan with his business interests and obtaining a US visa. The prime minister, however, has characterized the exchange of gifts between friends as normal behavior and has criticized the trial as a political witch-hunt.
During his testimony, Milchan hinted at a deeper patriotic aspect to their relationship, mentioning undisclosed actions they undertook for the country. In a friendly exchange, Milchan greeted Netanyahu with “Shalom, Bibi!” when the prime minister arrived at the Jerusalem court to observe the proceedings remotely.
Netanyahu, currently serving his record sixth term as prime minister, has faced criminal investigations since 2016, leading to political instability in Israel. Despite a cycle of inconclusive elections and a period in the opposition, Netanyahu returned to power in December.
The prime minister denies any connection between his trial and the justice system reforms pursued by his coalition, which have faced strong opposition. He has been indicted on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, accused of granting regulatory favors to businessmen in exchange for positive media coverage.
