Full Breakdown
James Packer’s $1.8 million Payments to Law Firm Defending Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
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Core Event
Australian billionaire James Packer has transferred at least US$1.25 million (US$1.78 million) to the Tel Aviv law firm Hadad Roth Shenhar over the past two years. The payments consist of monthly US$50,000 wire transfers that began on September 23, 2024, from the Citibank account of Packer’s investment arm Consolidated Press International to the firm’s account at Mizrahi Tefahot Bank. The law firm is also representing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his long-running corruption trial (Case 1000).
Background & Context
Netanyahu was indicted in 2019 for accepting luxury gifts—including champagne and cigars—from Packer and film producer Arnon Milchan, valued at about US$295,000. The gifts formed part of a broader set of allegations that Netanyahu improperly traded favours with Israeli business interests. Packer’s payments to Hadad Roth Shenhar are presented by a source as “deal-finding” work for Packer’s business interests in Israel, unrelated to the prime minister’s defence. At the time the payments began, Packer’s Consolidated Press International held more than US$600 million in technology investments, including stakes in Nvidia and Meta.
Official Statements & Responses
Packer declined to comment when contacted, but did not deny the ongoing US$50,000 monthly transfers. The firm’s senior defence attorney, Amit Hadad, did not respond to requests for comment.
Criticism & Opposition
Transparency International’s Australian director, Clancy Moore, called for urgent, independent scrutiny of the payments, noting the existing corruption charges linking Netanyahu to Packer’s past gifts. Moore emphasized that Israeli authorities have repeatedly ruled Netanyahu cannot accept foreign funds for his legal defence because of conflict-of-interest rules and disclosure failures.
Verbatim Quotes
- “As there are already significant corruption charges against Mr Netanyahu relating to past gifts from Mr Packer, and other business associates, these new allegations must be thoroughly investigated by authorities,” — Transparency International’s Australian
- “Significantly, Israeli authorities have repeatedly ruled that Mr Netanyahu can’t use funds from foreign benefactors to fund his legal defence against corruption charges due to conflict of interests and his failure to disclose his wealth,” — Clancy Moore. Moore