Monday, June 26, 2023, was the second day of testimony for Hollywood producer, Arnon Milchan in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial.
The movies, “12 Years a Slave” and “Bohemian Rhapsody” were both produced by Arnon Milchan.
Milchan, 78, testified via videoconference from Brighton, England. His testimony began on Sunday, June 25, 2023, and is expected to last about two weeks.
The Hollywood producer is a key witness in one of three lawsuits launched against Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Prosecutors are trying to prove that Netanyahu committed fraud and breach of trust. Milchan is not charged in the case.
According to the indictment against Netanyahu, Milchan gave Netanyahu and his wife a “supply line” of lavish gifts valued at nearly $200,000.
The indictment accuses Netanyahu of using his influential perch to assist Milchan to secure a U.S. visa extension by drawing on his diplomatic contacts, including former U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry.
Prosecutors also accuse Netanyahu of working to push legislation that would have granted Milchan millions in tax breaks.
Prosecutors hope Milchan’s testimony will provide details about the abundance of gifts given to Netanyahu and his wife. The prosecutors maintain that the gifts led to favors from Netanyahu that advanced Milchan’s interests. However, Netanyahu’s lawyers have argued that Milchan’s gifts were friendly gestures.
In his first day of testimony, Milchan described a friendship that included some gifts to the Netanyahus that turned into regular requests and “transformed into a routine.”
He said the routine became so frequent that he and the Netanyahus developed code words for the gifts. Cigars were known as “leaves,” champagne was known as “roses,” and luxury dress shirts were nicknamed “dwarves.”
He said he had instructed his aides to give the Netanyahus “whatever they want” and was assured by the Prime Minister that there was nothing illegal going on.
Milchan Admits Gifts Were “Excessive”
Milchan said on Monday that the gifts did not affect his friendship with the Netanyahus until a police investigation was opened and at which point, he said, he realized the gifts were “excessive.”
When asked whether he had ever refused a request for gifts, Milchan answered, “Not that I remember.”
Milchan also again stressed that he considered the Netanyahus friends, but recounted that he told police he felt uncomfortable that his gifts were not reciprocated.
Milchan divulged that he had turned to Netanyahu and others for help about the visa extension. He said that Kerry called him one day and met with him at a hotel. Describing Kerry as a good friend, he stated that he was told Kerry could not help.
Netanyahu, who has attended some of the hearings during his trial, was at the courtroom both on Sunday and Monday. The trial, which began in 2020 and has still not heard from Netanyahu himself, has featured more than 40 prosecution witnesses, including some of Netanyahu’s closest former confidants who turned against the premier.
Milchan is testifying in one of three cases being brought against Netanyahu. The other two, which include charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust, accuse Netanyahu of exchanging regulatory favors with powerful media moguls for more positive coverage.
Netanyahu denies wrongdoing, claiming that he is the victim of a witch hunt orchestrated by a liberal media and a biased justice system.
Netanyahu’s legal woes have plagued him politically, putting his fitness to rule while on trial at the center of a political crisis.
They also have fueled accusations by critics that Netanyahu is pushing a contentious government plan to overhaul Israel’s judiciary as a way to escape the charges. Netanyahu denies those accusations.
