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

By תומר אלמגור

Translated & summarized from N12 by baba

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Hebrew · 11 newsrooms covering

An Australian investigation found that billionaire James Packer's company paid over $1 million to the law firm representing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The payments of $50,000 per month began in September 2024. A source close to Packer stated the funds were for legal work done for Packer, not Netanyahu's defense, though Netanyahu is on trial for alleged gifts from Packer and Arnon Milchan.

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 began in September 2024, according to an Australian report.
A source claims the payments were for Packer's business dealings, not Netanyahu's legal defense.
Netanyahu faces trial for alleged gifts from Packer and Arnon Milchan.
A prior request for external funding for Netanyahu's defense was denied.

Australian Report: 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 "Chaddad, Rot & Co." law firm starting in September 2024. The report did not state that Netanyahu himself benefited from these payments.

In response to inquiries, Netanyahu's spokesperson told the Australian media outlet, "I don't care about your questions." Packer did not deny the recurring payments but declined to comment.

An individual familiar with Packer's financial dealings insisted that the payments were for legal work performed 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, an ethics committee rejected Netanyahu's request for external funding for his defense.