Netanyahu asks court to reconsider ruling on revealing conversations with Sheldon Adelson

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asks the High Court of Justice to reconsider a ruling forcing him to reveal details about his conversations with the heads of the Israel Hayom newspaper over the years, including the paper’s owner, US casino magnate Sheldon Adelson.

Netanyahu is under investigation for possible criminal activities linked to conversations he had with Arnon Mozes, the publisher of Yedioth Aharonoth, during which he was recorded offering to act to limit the distribution of rival paper Israel Hayom in exchange for more favorable coverage from Mozes’s paper.

In his request Tuesday, Netanyahu asks the court to reconsider a ruling two weeks ago that he must hand over the dates and times of his conversations with Adelson and former Israel Hayom editor Amos Regev to Channel 10 and journalist Raviv Drucker. The court said the request from Channel 10 and Drucker were covered under the Freedom of Information Act.

In his appeal, Netanyahu promises to publicize the details of his conversations, but notes that the ruling could have far-reaching implications for privacy for public officials.