Packer Sent $1.25 Million to Netanyahu Defense Firm, Report Finds
Wire transfers began in late 2024, but a source claims the fees covered investment work rather than legal defense.
By Ibrahim Howard ·
Australian billionaire James Packer transferred at least US$1.25 million to the law firm defending Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a report published Monday by The Sydney Morning Herald. The payments were made in monthly wire transfers of US$50,000 over the past two years. The first transfer occurred on September 23, 2024.
The newspaper identified the funds as originating from a Citibank account belonging to Consolidated Press International, Packer’s company. The money went to an account at Bank Mizrahi Tefahot held by Hadad Roth Shenhar, the Tel Aviv firm representing Netanyahu. The report notes that the payments have not yet been independently confirmed by other parties.
A source familiar with Packer’s financial affairs told the newspaper that the transfers compensated Packer for work he performed. This work included identifying investment deals in Israel. The source stated the payments had no connection to the prime minister’s criminal trial. The Herald later requested evidence of these deals or work by the firm. Neither Packer nor his company responded by the time of publication.
Packer declined to comment when contacted by reporters. He did not deny the existence of the payments. Amit Hadad, one of Netanyahu’s defense attorneys, did not answer the newspaper’s questions. He also refused to address the matter at the Jerusalem District Court, where evidentiary hearings are ongoing.
A spokesman for Netanyahu responded to the inquiry with a blunt remark. He said he could not give a monkey’s about the questions because the team was very busy preparing for an election currently underway. The report appears on the eve of Israeli elections, while the trial remains active.
Packer is already linked to Case 1000, where Netanyahu faces charges of fraud and breach of trust. Prosecutors allege that Packer and businessman Arnon Milchan regularly supplied gifts to the prime minister. The indictment describes these gifts as a supply line that responded to requests and demands. The alleged period for Packer’s gifts spans 2014 to 2016.
According to the indictment, the value of gifts from Packer totaled NIS 229,174. This amount consisted of NIS 145,577 in cigars and NIS 83,597 in champagne. Hadas Klein, who worked for both Milchan and Packer, served as a key witness regarding the delivery of these items. Netanyahu denies wrongdoing in all three cases covered by his trial.
Source: The Jerusalem Post
