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Politics · Middle East

Packer sent $1.25m to Netanyahu’s defence law firm, investigation finds

James Packer sent at least US$1.25 million to the Tel Aviv law firm defending Benjamin Netanyahu, through monthly transfers from a company-controlled account. The payments raise questions about a possible benefit, but the investigation did not confirm Netanyahu received any.

AI-assisted synthesis · Based on 2 independent reports from 4 outlets · Article text read from 1 of 2 reports · 1 article captured only in partHow it's made

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4 outlets2 regionsLatest reporting 3 min read
Coverage: Mostly CenterL 0 · C 2 · R 1 · 1 unrated
Updat3 graphic: James Packer
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What happened

Key facts

  • An investigation found that James Packer paid US$1.25 million to a law firm defending Benjamin Netanyahu (per The Sydney Morning Herald, The Jerusalem Post).
  • The Sydney Morning Herald reported monthly US$50,000 transfers from an account of Packer’s firm Consolidated Press International to the law firm (per The Sydney Morning Herald).
  • The firm is defending Netanyahu against allegations that he unlawfully accepted expensive gifts from Packer between 2014 and 2016 (per The Sydney Morning Herald).
  • A source familiar with the payments called for an urgent investigation into whether they gave Netanyahu an undisclosed benefit (per The Sydney Morning Herald).
  • The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Israeli authorities have repeatedly blocked Netanyahu from receiving funds from wealthy backers for his defence (per The Sydney Morning Herald).
  • When asked about the allegations, a spokesperson for Netanyahu said, “I couldn’t give a monkey’s about your questions.” (per The Sydney Morning Herald).

The brief

An investigation found that James Packer paid US$1.25 million to a law firm defending Benjamin Netanyahu. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the payments came in monthly US$50,000 transfers from an account of Packer’s firm, Consolidated Press International, to Hadad Roth Shenhar, the law firm representing Netanyahu.

The first transfer was made on September 23, 2024, to the firm’s account at Israel’s Mizrahi Tefahot bank. The investigation concerns payments made while the firm was defending Netanyahu against allegations that he unlawfully accepted expensive gifts from Packer between 2014 and 2016. Those allegations are not presented as a finding of guilt.

The payments and the defence work are the central facts behind a call for scrutiny of whether the funding gave Netanyahu an undisclosed benefit. A source familiar with the payments, who was not authorised to speak publicly, told The Sydney Morning Herald that the matter should be investigated urgently.

The source’s stated concern was whether the payments benefited Netanyahu while the firm was representing him. The account did not establish that Netanyahu personally received any of the money. The Sydney Morning Herald also reported that Israeli authorities have repeatedly blocked Netanyahu from receiving funds from wealthy backers for his defence.

The transfers described in the investigation were made to the law firm, rather than being identified as direct payments to Netanyahu. The account does not say whether authorities have assessed these particular transfers.

Asked about the allegations on a Monday morning, a spokesperson for Netanyahu replied: “I couldn’t give a monkey’s about your questions.” The Sydney Morning Herald said Packer did not deny the recurring US$50,000 payments when contacted on a Friday night, but declined to comment. Neither response provides an explanation for the payments.

The Jerusalem Post’s headline also says Packer paid a firm defending Netanyahu in a trial over $1.25 million, but supplies no further details in its headline. A separate headline from twaslnews1.twaslnews.com gives a different amount, saying Packer paid $1.8 million to a law firm also defending Netanyahu in corruption charges.

That headline does not explain the figure or how it relates to the US$1.25 million reported by The Sydney Morning Herald.

Why it matters

  • The payments went to the law firm defending Netanyahu in a case involving allegations about expensive gifts Packer gave him between 2014 and 2016.
  • A source familiar with the transfers said an urgent investigation should examine whether they provided Netanyahu an undisclosed benefit.
  • The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Israeli authorities have repeatedly blocked Netanyahu from receiving defence funds from wealthy backers, making the route and destination of these payments relevant to scrutiny.
  • Packer declined to comment, while a Netanyahu spokesperson dismissed questions; neither response explained the transfers.

What to watch next

  • Whether an investigation is opened into the source’s request to examine whether the payments gave Netanyahu an undisclosed benefit.
  • Whether Israeli authorities address the transfers to Hadad Roth Shenhar in light of their reported restrictions on Netanyahu receiving funds from wealthy backers.
  • Whether Packer provides an explanation for the recurring US$50,000 payments.
  • Whether the $1.8 million figure in twaslnews1.twaslnews.com’s headline is reconciled with the US$1.25 million reported by The Sydney Morning Herald.

How it's being covered

Coverage analysisShow details
4 source articles · 4 unique outlets · 2 distinct reports
Outlet political mix: Mostly Center· 2 Center · 1 Right · 1 unrated
Where the outlets are based: Asia 50% · Middle East 25% · Other 25%
Outlet political mix
Mostly Center
Left
Center
Right
0 outlets
2 outlets
1 outlet
The marker shows coverage balance: each unique outlet counts once. 1 unrated outlet is not included.
Geography
Where the outlets covering this story are based.
4 unique outletsDominant coverage: Asia
How we measure coverage

How outlets' accounts compare

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Timeline

Developments from this story's sources, dated background we compiled and fact-checked, and our earlier coverage. Each row says which.
  1. Benjamin Netanyahu became prime minister after winning Israel’s first direct election for the office.
    Background · compiled and fact-checked by Updat3
  2. Packer’s gifts were also examined by Australian authorities: in 2017, the Australian Federal Police investigated whether Packer had breached foreign-bribery laws, but the inquiry did not result in charges against him.
    Background · from our historical context
  3. In January 2017, Israeli police questioned Netanyahu over suspicions of improper gifts and contacts with media figures.
    Background · from our historical context
  4. These proceedings formed part of the background to the Israeli allegations brought in 2019.
    Background · from our historical context
  5. The charges followed a police investigation and Mandelblit’s February 2019 announcement that he intended to indict Netanyahu, subject to a hearing.
    Background · from our historical context
  6. On November 21, 2019, Israel’s attorney general, Avichai Mandelblit, announced that Netanyahu would be indicted in three corruption cases.
    Background · from our historical context
  7. Netanyahu’s trial opened at the Jerusalem District Court on May 24, 2020, making him the first sitting Israeli prime minister to stand trial.
    Background · from our historical context
  8. Israel held a Knesset election in which Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc won a majority.
    Background · compiled and fact-checked by Updat3
  9. Benjamin Netanyahu returned to office as prime minister after his bloc won a majority in the Knesset election.
    Background · compiled and fact-checked by Updat3

How we got here

The legal case at the centre of Benjamin Netanyahu’s defence began with allegations about gifts he received from wealthy individuals, including Australian businessman James Packer, between 2014 and 2016. On November 21, 2019, Israel’s attorney general, Avichai Mandelblit, announced that Netanyahu would be indicted in three corruption cases.

Case 1000 concerned expensive gifts, including cigars and champagne, that prosecutors alleged Netanyahu and his family received from Packer and Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan; Netanyahu was charged with fraud and breach of trust in that case.

Original sources

2 of 4 articles · Asia · Show all

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