Hollywood mogul threatens to sue MK for slander in Netanyahu graft case
Arnon Milchan gives lawmaker David Amsalem 48 hours to publicly retract accusation that he lied to police, acted to bring down PM
Israeli film producer and billionaire Arnon Michan on Monday threatened to sue a member of Knesset for accusing him of lying to police and deliberately trying to bring down Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The relationship between Netanyahu, his wife, and Milchan forms the core of a police investigation — known as “Case 1000” — into whether the Netanyahus received improper gifts worth hundreds of thousands of shekels.
Milchan’s attorney Boaz Ben Zur sent a letter to Likud MK David Amsalem warning him he had 48 hours to publicly retract and apologize for his comments or face a lawsuit for slander, the proceeds of which will be donated to charity.
The threat came the day after an Amsalem gave an interview on Army Radio in which he charged that the Hollywood mogul himself is the one behind the ongoing police investigation into the Netanyahus.
“They are wild, unbridled and unfounded slander,” Ben Zur wrote of Amsalem’s accusations. “These are false statements that amount to defamation.”
“You are asked to take back within 48 hours your comments against Mr. Milchen, to publicly apologize for them, and to immediately cease from making further false slander against Mr Milchen,” the letter continued, according to the Hebrew-language Ynet website.
The missive further warned that if Amsalem did not meet the demands, Milchan will take legal action in court to “sue you for all damages.”
“The fruits of the win, Mr. Milchan will donate, as his is habit, to a suitable cause,” Ben Zur added.
Until Sunday, Milchan, a powerful Hollywood producer and former Israeli spy, had been portrayed as a close friend and benefactor of Netanyahu and his wife, Sara.
However, during the interview with the radio station, Amsalem painted Milchan as plotting against the prime minister.
“Ask yourself why Milchan is even telling these stories,” Amsalem said. “Milchan came to the police. Something is going on here.”
Milchan reportedly told Israeli police under questioning that the Netanyahus demanded the champagne and cigars that he has allegedly been supplying them, and that they were not, as the couple has claimed, merely gifts he gave out of generosity and friendship.
Amsalem charged that the ongoing leaks of material from the investigation were designed to turn the public against Netanyahu.
Asked what Milchan was trying to do, Amsalem replied: “To bring down the prime minister.”
“Milchan could be lying,” he added.
Sources close to Milchan responded Sunday to Amsalem’s statements by suggesting that the lawmaker was acting under instructions of Netanyahu himself.
“It is embarrassing and worrying to see a smear campaign that was opened this morning by emissaries acting on behalf of interested parties against a man who dedicated his life to fortify the security and prosperity of Israel,” unnamed Milchan associates told Israeli media.
In response, Netanyahu’s bureau denied attempts to besmirch Milchan. “There was no such thing. We don’t intend to respond to all the false accusations,” an official was quoted by Hebrew media as saying.
A second investigation, known as “Case 2000,” is looking into suspicions Netanyahu negotiated with Israel’s top-selling newspaper publisher to push legislation to hamper a competitor, in return for more favorable coverage.
The two investigations threaten Netanyahu’s hold on power. Netanyahu denies any wrongdoing.
On Sunday, Israel Police chief Roni Alsheich said the probes were close to completion.
“We already know what conclusions we have reached in the investigation,” Alscheich told reporters, without elaborating. “I believe we will bring the material to the prosecutor for a decision in the next few weeks,” he said.
The Times of Israel Community.