Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid testified Monday in the lengthy corruption trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, explaining how Netanyahu lobbied nearly a decade ago to back tax cuts in favor of Israel’s leading film producers. I told him in detail how he was doing.
The allegations are part of a long-running indictment in which Prime Minister Netanyahu is accused of giving political favors to several businessmen and media magnates in exchange for expensive gifts and favorable press coverage. But Prime Minister Netanyahu denies it.
Once Netanyahu’s colleague and now Netanyahu’s nemesis, Mr. Lapid’s rise has been a slow one, largely driven into the background of Israeli public life since it began with much fanfare more than three years ago. Liven up the court process.
Mr. Lapid was prime minister for several months last year, but was overthrown in December by Mr. Netanyahu, who holds the longest tenure in Israel.
Mr. Lapid briefly presented evidence of two short conversations he had with Mr. Netanyahu in 2013 and 2014, when he was Mr. Netanyahu’s finance minister in the coalition government. Mr. Rapid said Mr. Netanyahu had twice raised the possibility of extending the tax exemption for Israeli citizens returning home after living abroad, but Mr. Rapid said he was against it.
The extension was supposed to benefit Arnon Milchan, producer of a number of Hollywood movies, including “Fight Club” and “Pretty Woman.” Prosecutors allege that Milchan gave expensive gifts such as cigars and champagne to Netanyahu’s family in exchange for political favors.
Lapid said Netanyahu twice said tax exemption was a “good law”. But Mr. Lapid said Prime Minister Netanyahu did not pursue the issue beyond those two exchanges. Lapid added that the prime minister gave the impression that he was simply going to ask about it, to tell Milchan that he had tried it.
“In real time, the whole problem was trivial,” Rapid said, according to Israeli public broadcaster Khan. “It’s hard to remember all the details.”
The trial will likely begin in 2020 and not rely on Mr. Rapid’s evidence. The trial is expected to last several more years, with several more charges being filed. Prosecutors, among other allegations, have pledged to push forward with bills that would create unfavorable operating conditions for newspapers owned by Netanyahu and President Donald J. Trump supporter billionaire Sheldon Adelson. He has accused Netanyahu of Newspaper competitors.
While many Israelis turn a blind eye to the day-to-day agenda, most have already made up their minds about Netanyahu. His supporters see the trial as a hoaxed effort to strip the elected prime minister of his legitimacy, but his critics should strip him of his job in the trial. claims.
But regardless of its outcome, the trial has already caused extraordinary political unrest. Israeli society is almost evenly divided between Netanyahu’s supporters and critics, making it difficult for both Netanyahu and opponents like Lapid to secure a stable majority in parliament. As a result, successive governments fell prematurely, leading to five elections within four years.
The trial is also at the center of an ongoing debate over the future of the Israeli judiciary.
Netanyahu’s coalition has sought to overhaul the court system, giving the government more authority over the selection of Supreme Court justices and weakening the court’s authority over parliament. Netanyahu has argued that an overhaul is needed to reduce the influence of unelected judges over elected lawmakers, but Netanyahu’s critics believe the plan will ultimately I fear that the prime minister’s trial will end. Prime Minister Netanyahu has denied such intentions.
Mr. Rapid’s arrival highlights the nuances of Israeli politics beneath the surface. Although now seeking the political overthrow of Mr. Netanyahu, Mr. Rapid was once a political ally of Mr. Netanyahu, and was associated with and briefly worked for Mr. Milchan. During his cross-examination, Mr. Rapid told how he interviewed Mr. Milchan in the 1990s during his journalistic career and joined Mr. Milchan’s production company for several months.
“After that, we remained friends. When he came to Israel, we would meet and have dinner,” Mr. Kang said. He was a charming man and I liked him. “
But the friendship didn’t extend to helping Milchan with his taxes, Rapid said.
Gaby Sobelman Contributing to the report from Rehovot, Israel, Myra Novek from Jerusalem.
