Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not at the beck and call of his billionaire friends, nor did they affect anything outside of his personal life, he argued at his criminal trial testimony hearing in the Tel Aviv District Court on Monday.

On the 38th day of the hearings, Netanyahu was questioned by attorney Yehonatan Tadmor, on the third day of cross-examination questioning, as the coalition continues to attempt to mend its cracks and the Israel-Hamas War continues in Gaza. The hearing ended early due to an “important diplomatic call” at 2:30 p.m.

Tadmor continued on Monday with questions on Case 1000, zeroing in on the friendship Netanyahu had with billionaire Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan and whether that friendship influenced Netanyahu’s policies in any way. The prime minister is on trial for allegedly advancing legislation favorable to Milchan, while receiving gifts from him in the form of cigars and champagne, worth thousands of shekels. He was charged with fraud and breach of trust.
“I spoke with him about personal things because we were close friends,” Netanyahu said on Monday.

Tadmor questioned the frequency of private notes Netanyahu got from Milchan, as well as the frequency of requests issued by Milchan to Netanyahu’s staff. Tadmor presented quotes from former Netanyahu staffer-turned state’s witness Ari Harrow, who said that Milchan would call periodically – either with requests or to speak with the prime minister.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends his trial on corruption charges at the district court in Tel Aviv, Israel, 21 April, 2025. (credit: REUTERS)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends his trial on corruption charges at the district court in Tel Aviv, Israel, 21 April, 2025. (credit: REUTERS)

Tadmor's proposal

Tadmor proposed that Netanyahu’s staff was in close contact with Milchan, including with former PMO director-general Gil Shefer. Tadmor referenced the 2022 testimony of Hadas Klein, who was Milchan’s personal assistant. She said that Milchan had said that Shefer referred him to “religious ultra-Orthodox folks” who had good contacts for visa approvals. Per the indictment, one of the favors Netanyahu allegedly advanced for his friend was a US visa approval, after his visa expired.
Tadmor asked Netanyahu, based on Klein’s testimony, whether he remembered being called out of meetings by Harrow to take phone calls from Milchan. Netanyahu responded, “I’m not a dog. I don’t come when people whistle.”Netanyahu added that there were many other times where Milchan called and he didn’t leave meetings to take the calls – and that any such instance does not indicate a pattern.
Tadmor’s attack line was to confront the prime minister with contradictory testimonies. Netanyahu’s defense narrative was that he was simply unaware of anything related to Milchan outside their personal friendship.
Klein was also the personal assistant of Australian billionaire James Packer, the other key figure in Case 1000.
Asked about Packer on Monday, Netanyahu said that his only initial interest in him was “what he could do for Israel.”
He added that the link between Packer and Milchan carried no weight with him, only the fact of Packer’s geographical location – “close to China and India.”
The hearing then took a recess. During the break, supporters of the prime minister, who are present to some capacity at every hearing, went to speak with him. One dissenter shouted from the back, “Wipe that smile off of your face, you loser! Bring back the hostages! You are a shame to the State!”
Security officials escorted the man out. Netanyahu’s defense attorney Amit Hadad charged, “The next time something like this happens, we will simply walk out. I come in here after a break and get to watch a man yell at the prime minister, and everyone in this room is sitting quietly as though that is a normal thing; it is bullying in its purest form!”

Tadmor asked the prime minister whether he remembered the chef who was in charge of one of the dozen-or-so dinners that Netanyahu, Milchan, and Packer had attended at the Prime Minister’s Residence on Balfour Street in Jerusalem.

Netanyahu then had an “emergency phone call,” and the hearing was adjourned.

Recounting his initial meeting with and impressions of Packer, Netanyahu said he got the sense that Packer found him to be “the most impressive man he’s ever met... He said that he had met many people and leaders [due to his status].”

Netanyahu added that his status as prime minister wasn’t inconsequential but that it wasn’t the basis for their relationship. “I felt a fatherly responsibility toward him. There was good faith there and sincerity.”

He added, “The last thing that impressed Packer was my position. He was a friend.” This does challenges the indictment’s charge that their friendship had political ramifications.