Middle Eastern Monitor
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Evidence pertaining to one of Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption cases has been leaked to
the media, appearing to show his quid pro quo deal with a newspaper
tycoon in return for favourable media coverage.
Published by Israel’s Channel 12 last night, the leak included a transcript of a conversation between Netanyahu and the publisher of popular Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, which lies at the centre of what has become known as Case 2000. In the case, Netanyahu allegedly offered to pass legislation that would impede the activities of Mozes’ rival newspaper, Israel Hayom, in return for more favourable media coverage of the prime minister and his policies.
Israel Police also suspect that, in return for curbing Israel Hayom, Mozes offered to hire journalists recommended by Netanyahu to undermine his rival politicians.
In the leaked conversation, “Mozes can
reportedly be heard admitting [to] slanting coverage against Netanyahu’s
election rivals and ‘hiding’ negative articles about the premier’s wife
[Sara], while urging the prime minister to file a libel lawsuit and
figuratively ‘kill’ a Yedioth writer who is a fierce Netanyahu critic,”
the Times of Israel (ToI) reported, citing the Channel 12 broadcast.
The TV channel said that in a recording
from December 2014 — ahead of Israel’s 2015 election — “Netanyahu can be
heard complaining to Mozes that [election rivals Yair] Lapid and
[Naftali] Bennett were being handled with kids’ gloves in Yedioth and
[its associated online publication] Ynet”.
ToI adds that the pair “also
discussed Netanyahu’s desire to ensure that Bennett win ‘under 15’ seats
in the election,” adding that his Jewish Home party “eventually won
eight [seats], but was projected at the time for as much as 17,”
suggesting the policy was successful.
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