Video: Opposition leader testifies against prime minister: Lapid takes witness stand in Case 1000 (Roni Knafo)
Billionaire Arnon Milchan, the American-Israeli producer, will take the witness stand in Netanyahu's trial in Brighton, Britain, on Sunday and begin his testimony, considered the most important testimony in Case 1000, the "gift bag." His testimony in Britain is closed to the public and media coverage, and only relatives of the accused will be able to be in the room while he speaks. Last month, Amit Haddad, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's lawyer, announced that Prime Minister Sara Netanyahu's wife was planning to come to Brighton to watch the testimony.
Milchan is a well-known Hollywood producer, signed on to some of the biggest blockbusters in recent years. Among other things, he produced the well-known films Fight Club and Pretty Woman. In Israel, he produced the film 'Dizengoff 99'. But this was not what Milchan's talents encapsulated. According to a New York Times report, Milchan served as a liaison to the Information Relations Bureau and assisted Israel's nuclear program.
Alongside all this, Milchan was very close to Israeli politicians, including Prime Minister Netanyahu. During the testimony of Hadas Klein, considered Milchan's right-hand man, the prime minister's lawyer presented photos of Milchan with Shimon Peres, Tzipi Livni, and Isaac Herzog. Yair Lapid is also considered close to Milchan, and he even worked for him in the United States in the past.
According to the indictment, Milchan was the one who financed the supply of champagne and cigars to the Netanyahus, in exchange for Netanyahu taking care of extending his visa in the United States. Milchan's request not to testify in Israel but in Britain, where he now resides, for medical reasons, was accepted by the Jerusalem District Court. However, according to a report by Gidi Weitz in Haaretz, it seems that the real reason for the remote testimony is Milchan's fear of demonstrations and interference with his agenda by Netanyahu's supporters.
Arnon Milchan (Photo: GettyImages)
What can be expected in the testimony?
Milchan's testimony will take place over ten days, spread out from Sunday to Thursday for two consecutive weeks, between 12:00 and 18:00 Israel time. The prosecutors and defense attorneys will travel to Britain to interrogate Milchan, and in the Jerusalem District Court will hear the testimony via Skype.
Milchan is a key witness in Case 1000, and his testimony is supposed to strengthen the prosecution's thesis that the champagne and cigars Milchan supplied to Netanyahu were gifts that the prime minister should not accept. On the other hand, Netanyahu's lawyer Amit Haddad is expected to argue that accepting gifts is permitted by friends. During police interrogation, Netanyahu said that lawyer Yaakov Weinroth or lawyer David Shimron and even former Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein told him that he was allowed to receive gifts from friends.
Those around Milchan told Walla! Because Milchan does not come with a "knife between the two" or with the aim of taking revenge and settling scores with Netanyahu, but will answer the questions and tell his version "as it is." If there are no surprises, and Milchan does not surprise the prosecution as his associates attest, Haddad's cross-examination will probably be quite aggressive and tough, and will relate mainly to Milchan's past.
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