Australian Tycoon Wired $1.25 Million to Netanyahu Defense Firm

Australian billionaire James Packer sent 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 newspaper stated that the funds were transferred in monthly wire payments of US$50,000 over a two-year period. The transfers began on September 23, 2024.

The report identifies the source of the money as the Citibank account of Packer’s company, Consolidated Press International. The funds were deposited into an account at Bank Mizrahi Tefahot held by Hadad Roth Shenhar, a Tel Aviv firm. The newspaper noted that it has not independently confirmed the figures.

A source familiar with Packer’s financial affairs told The Herald that the payments covered work Packer performed. The source said the work included identifying investment deals in Israel and had no connection to the prime minister’s criminal trial. The newspaper requested evidence of such deals or work by the firm. Neither Packer nor his company had replied by the time the story was published.

Packer declined to comment when approached by the paper but did not deny the payments. Amit Hadad, Netanyahu’s defense attorney, did not answer the newspaper’s questions. At the Jerusalem District Court, where evidentiary-stage hearings are ongoing, he refused to address queries on the matter.

A spokesman for Netanyahu responded to the Herald with a blunt rejection. "I couldn't give a monkey's about your questions. We are very busy. We have an election on right now," the spokesman said. The report appears on the eve of Israeli elections while the trial continues.

Packer is linked to Case 1000, in which Netanyahu is accused of accepting gifts from Packer and businessman Arnon Milchan. Packer is not a defendant. Prosecutors allege the gifts became a regular "supply line" in response to requests and demands. The indictment states that gifts to Netanyahu and his wife totaled about NIS 690,000, primarily cigars and champagne.

The indictment places Packer’s gifts at NIS 229,174, consisting of NIS 145,577 in cigars and NIS 83,597 in champagne. The alleged interventions involved Milchan’s US visa, tax benefits, and regulatory issues tied to Israeli television investments. Hadas Klein, who worked for both men, was a key prosecution witness on the delivery of the gifts. Netanyahu denies wrongdoing in all three cases of the trial that began in May 2020.