BICOM

Israel’s Prime Minister was questioned last night for the second time in a week, as part of a criminal investigation into allegations that he received illegal gifts from businessmen.

Earlier this week, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit confirmed that Benjamin Netanyahu is being questioned “on suspicion of receiving improper benefits from businessmen”. YNet reports that yesterday’s police interview lasted for five hours. On Monday the Prime Minister was questioned for three hours.

Although Mandelblit has not revealed any details of the cases, the Israeli media has speculated about the identity of the individuals involved.  Haaretz suggested earlier this week that the central figure was Ronald Lauder, the heir to the Estee Lauder estate. Media reports yesterday claimed that Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan is also central to the allegations. Yediot Ahronot says that Netanyahu was questioned last night about  a second, more serious case.

Netanyahu’s lawyer Jacob Weinroth told Channel Two that the businessmen in question are old friends of Netanyahu and described the gifts being examined as “the smallest of trifles”.

Channel Ten claims that the sums involved amount to tens of thousands of shekels and also suggests that police have only so far shown Netanyahu a fraction of the evidence they have amassed against him.

Earlier this week, Mandelblit released a statement simultaneously confirming the current investigation and announcing that suspicions surrounding Netanyahu in four other cases will not be pursued. They include allegations that he received forbidden campaign funds for the 2009 general election and that he had double-billed for flights abroad paid by foreign donors.

Yesterday, a petition spearheaded by Zionist Union MK Erel Margalit was submitted to the High Court, calling on Mandelblit to be more transparent in his investigation of Netanyahu, particularly in two other ongoing investigations: Allegations that a submarine deal was influenced by the business interests of Netanyahu’s lawyer and Netanyahu’s dealings with a convicted French billionaire. The petition was signed by 19,000 people.