Contrary to reports, Netanyahu 'not surprised' by police in graft probe

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's attorneys, Jacob Weinroth and Amit Hadad, on Tuesday categorically rejected reports that the testimony given by businessman Arnon Milchan in a corruption investigation against the prime minister came as a surprise to Netanyahu.

On Monday, the prime minister was questioned for a fourth time over suspicions of corruption. Among other allegations, police are investigating suspicions that Netanyahu and his wife Sara accepted illicit gifts from Milchan and Australian billionaire James Packer in what has been dubbed "Case 1,000."

No charges have been brought against Netanyahu, who has been in power since 2009 and has denied wrongdoing.

"In light of skewed reports suggesting that the prime minister was taken by surprise during questioning, we want to hereby clarify that the prime minister was not surprised by anything," the attorneys wrote in a statement.

"Furthermore," they added, "the Israel Police did not presume to have presented the prime minister with any kind of surprise. The questioning was to the point, the prime minister answered all the questions he was asked and emerged from the session completely calm. We repeat: Nothing will come of this because nothing happened."

Over the last 24 hours, many reports have circulated surrounding the investigation, potentially including disinformation. Channel 2 initially reported that police investigating alleged kickbacks provided by Milchan and Packer were unable to coordinate meetings with the two moguls. Over the weekend, however, it was reported that police had questioned Milchan but had yet to meet with Packer. It was reported further that a disagreement had erupted within police ranks over the need to question Packer at all, but efforts are still underway to set a meeting with him.

According to Channel 2, Milchan alleged that at one point he could no longer stand the Netanyahus' demands for gifts and instructed his personal assistant to handle any such requests. The channel reported further that the prime minister, who is suspected of having accepted tens of thousands of dollars' worth of cigars, told investigators that he couldn't possibly smoke as many cigars as they claim he received because of a medical condition in the nasal cavities. According to Netanyahu, he is unable to smoke for several months out of the year due to flare-ups of his condition. Netanyahu offered investigators the testimony of his doctor, who confirmed the prime minister's statements.

Channel 2 also reported that Netanyahu was not in fact questioned on Case 1,000 on Monday, but rather on Case 2,000, which revolves around recorded conversations between Netanyahu and Yedioth Ahronoth publisher Arnon Mozes about limiting competition in the news sector in exchange for more positive coverage of Netanyahu. Police have notified that prime minister that further questioning will be required in the case, Channel 2 reported.

On the same topic, Channel 10 reported that Netanyahu's attorney, David Shimron, knew that the conversations were being recorded. Police investigators asked to question Shimron and Netanyahu agreed to relinquish attorney-client privilege on the matter, the channel reported.

Channel 10 also reported on Case 1,000, saying that Netanyahu denied the allegation that he systematically demanded shipments of cigars from Milchan every time he ran out. The channel quoted the prime minister as saying that he often purchased the cigars himself when he ran out.

Call from Trump interrupts police questioning

A phone call from U.S. President Donald Trump interrupted Monday's police inquiry. Not long after sitting down with police investigators at his residence in Jerusalem, one aide said, Netanyahu briefly excused himself to speak with Trump.

"The two leaders spoke at length about the dangers posed by the nuclear deal with Iran ... and about the need to work together to counter those dangers," Netanyahu's office said in a statement issued just before details of the police probe led prime-time news.

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