Israel’s ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer was reportedly questioned by police as part of an ongoing investigation into suspicions Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received bribes from an Israeli-born Hollywood mogul in exchange for advancing his interests.
Dermer, considered a close associate of Netanyahu, confirmed to police that, on the direction of the prime minister, he asked then-secretary of state John Kerry to help organize a visa for Arnon Milchan, Hadashot (formerly Channel 2) news reports.
Israel’s Ambassador to Washington Ron Dermer, formerly senior adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Miriam Alster/Flash90)
Netanyahu and Milchan are being investigated in police “Case 1000,” which in probing allegations Milchan supplied Netanyahu and his wife Sara with cigars, alcohol and jewelry to the tune of hundreds of thousands of shekels. They both deny that the gifts involved any exchange of favors and were merely gestures of friendship. But under questioning, both have reportedly confirmed that Milchan had asked Netanyahu to help him renew his US visa.
The channel also reported that the US State Department is delaying former US ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro from giving testimony over the visa request.
Netanyahu is said to have asked Shapiro in 2014 to intervene and arrange a long-term US visa for Milchan.
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