Israeli police arrive at Netanyahu's home to discuss corruption charges

Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu was questioned for a sixth time on Sunday over two suspected corruption charges, police said.
2 min read
20 November, 2017
Benyamin Netanyahu was grilled by investigators for a sixth time on Sunday [AFP]
Israeli police grilled Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu for a sixth time on Sunday over allegations of involvement in bribery, fraud, and breach of trust.

Investigators arrived at Netanyahu's official residence in Jerusalem shortly after on Sunday, police said.

Officers of the national fraud and serious crimes squad questioned the premier for "a number of hours" over two cases of corruption.

It was their second visit in ten days, after Netanyahu was grilled for about four hours on 9 November.

Netanyahu is suspected of having received luxury gifts from wealthy supporters, including Israeli businessman and Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan.

Milchan, a long-time friend of Netanyahu, reportedly sent him boxes of expensive cigars and other items worth tens of thousands of dollars. The producer was himself questioned in September.

In addition to suspicions that the gifts constituted bribery, the police also suspect that he sought a secret pact for favourable coverage with the publisher of the top-selling Yediot Aharonot newspaper.

The alleged deal - not believed to have been finalised - would have seen Netanyahu receive favourable coverage in return for helping curb Yediot's competitor, the pro-Netanyahu freesheet Israel Hayom.

Netanyahu has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and called the accusations against him a witch hunt orchestrated by a hostile media.

Earlier this month, Netanyahu confidants Yitzhak Molcho and David Shimron - partners in a law firm and both relatives of the premier - were questioned by police as part of a probe into suspected corruption around the purchase of German submarines.

Netanyahu himself has not been named as a suspect in the submarine case.

Agencies contributed to this report.