Australian Report: Billionaire Packer Paid Over $1 Million to Netanyahu's Lawyers

By תומר אלמגור

Translated & summarized from Mako by baba

CenterNeutral tone

Hebrew · 11 newsrooms covering

An Australian investigation found that billionaire James Packer's company paid over $1 million to Benjamin Netanyahu's law firm, with monthly transfers of $50,000 starting in September 2024. Packer's associates claim the payments were for legal services rendered to Packer, not related to Netanyahu's ongoing trial. Netanyahu faces charges of fraud and breach of trust in Case 1000.

The story in 5 lines · by baba

Billionaire James Packer's company paid over $1 million to Benjamin Netanyahu's law firm.
Monthly payments of $50,000 were reportedly made starting in September 2024.
Netanyahu is on trial for fraud and breach of trust in Case 1000.
Packer's associates claim the payments were for legal work done for Packer.
Netanyahu's request for external funding for his defense was previously denied.

Australian Report: Billionaire Packer Paid Over $1 Million to Netanyahu's Lawyers — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

An Australian media investigation has revealed that billionaire James Packer paid over $1 million to the law firm representing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to a report by the Sydney Morning Herald, a company owned by Packer transferred $50,000 monthly to the "Chadded, Rot & Co." law firm starting in September 2024. The report did not state that Netanyahu himself benefited from these payments.

Netanyahu's spokesperson told Australian media that he was indifferent to the questions. Packer did not deny the recurring payments but declined to comment. A source familiar with Packer's financial dealings insisted the payments were for legal work done for Packer himself, including identifying business opportunities in Israel where Packer has interests. This source stated the payments were unrelated to the Prime Minister's legal cases.

Netanyahu is currently on trial in Case 1000, facing charges of fraud and breach of trust related to gifts allegedly received from businessmen James Packer and Arnon Milchan. Previously, a permit committee rejected Netanyahu's request for external funding for his defense.