Sara Netanyahu to attend Hollywood mogul’s testimony in PM Netanyahu trial

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife Sara is set to attend the upcoming testimony of Hollywood mogul and billionaire Arnon Milchan in Brighton next week. 

Milchan, who was originally scheduled to testify via video call from Israel’s embassy in London, is a key witness in case 1000, in which Netanyahu is charged with fraud and breach of trust.

According to the indictment, Netanyahu is accused of receiving gifts worth hundreds of thousands of shekels from Milchan, such as jewellery, champagne and cigars.

In return, Netanyahu allegedly helped bring about tax benefits for Milchan and intervened with U.S. officials to help extend the billionaire’s U.S. visa.

Last month, Amit Haddad, Netanyahu’s defence attorney in cases 1000 and 2000, requested from the Jerusalem District Court that Sara Netanyahu be allowed to attend Milchan’s hearing.

“She knows (the details) and can give us indications to intervene if something is true or false,” Haddad explained said.

Hadas Klein, an aide to Milchan, told the Jerusalem court last year during her testimony that her boss “didn’t need anything from Netanyahu, but when he needs his visa, he calls Netanyahu.”

Milchan “didn’t intend to receive anything, any regulatory benefit for himself. He didn’t have businesses in Israel, other than Channel 10. As I saw it, Arnon didn’t expect Mr. Netanyahu would be involved in or help him with (business) projects,” she added.

Netanyahu has denied all wrongdoing in the three cases against him, accusing the judicial system of conspiring to topple him, with help from the mainstream media.