Arnon Milchan, one of the world's biggest film producers, sat in the director's chair earlier this week in the hotel hall in the British coastal towns of Brighton, and since then has not stopped giving a show. "I'm in the movie, not in the movie, I'm in the series," he said after another exaggerated argument between prosecutor Liat Ben-Ari and defense attorney Amit Hadad.
There is no dull moment in this testimony. Milchan jokes and trolls as if to keep the ratings high. Anyone who read Milchan's account of the police investigations and of the witness refresher conducted for him only a month ago could have been impressed by a witness full of prosecution motivation, one who is angry at the Netanyahu couple for embroiling him. But the show doesn't have to go on. A completely different Milchan took the witness stand. One that strengthens serious parts of the indictment in Case 1000, but tries to lower the flames as much as possible, hug and kiss "Sarah," as he put it, wave goodbye to Netanyahu and make sure to compliment: "There are elephants in Africa with Netanyahu's skin. He's not afraid of anything."
Arnon Milchan arrives to testify in Brighton, England, Photo: Getty Images
Milchan said in his testimony that at first he initiated the giving of cigars and champagne to the Netanyahu family, but they kept asking him so that it "became routine," as he put it. "Where would you bring them?" asked prosecutor Ben Ari, to which Milchan replied: "I brought them wherever they were," and as usual jokingly illustrated the frequency of the matter. "Once a long time ago I met Sarah at their house on Gaza Street, where I did not bring them..." - almost said "supply line", as the indictment puts it.
Milchan emphasized that he never felt obligated and could refuse as much as he wanted, even though he never did. When the judges wondered why, he replied: "Because I wanted to give within the framework of friendship." The prosecutor read from the interrogation: "I may have been less welcome in Belfort." The degree of friendship between Netanyahu and Milchan is repeated again and again in his testimony, Milchan confirmed that he and Netanyahu were like brothers.
Milchan defended Netanyahu, saying that "Netanyahu never helped me with anything personal or business, even if I had asked he would not have given," Milchan said, referring to the lesser-known part of Case 1000, which is actions Netanyahu allegedly carried out on Milchan's behalf in his capacity as prime minister.
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid arrived at the court ahead of his testimony in Netanyahu's trial // Photo: Yoni Rikner
The day before, however, Milchan said the opposite: "I told Netanyahu about my problem that Channel 10 cannot exist," Milchan shared with Netanyahu the business problem as well as the possible solution to acquire and merge the companies of Reshet and Keshet, only on condition that the Ministry of Communications approve it. "Netanyahu called Filber and asked him to check and help," Milchan said. Like Walt's messenger, the Director General of the Ministry of Communications came to provide personal advice and inside information to a friend of the boss in his private home.
"I spoke with Filber at Beit Yanai about regulation and how to promote the merger. Filber was responsible for this, he is the director general of the Ministry of Communications." The prosecutor asked if he had updated Netanyahu on the talks, and Milchan confirmed: "I updated him. Netanyahu was the communications minister." Netanyahu has a serious problem regarding the gifts and the merger, although the latter has not yet been dealt with in Milchan's cross-examination.
The cross-examination, which has just begun, has already scored a notable achievement, namely the accusation that Netanyahu helped Milchan renew his American visa after it was revoked because of an interview he gave to the Ovda program. Milchan repeatedly reiterated that Netanyahu had not taken any action for him regarding the visa, and that he had managed without it.
The Netanyahu Family and Arnon Milchan (Archive), Photo: Avi Ohayon
Defense attorney Haddad added Netanyahu's motives besides the friendship and gifts – to help Milchan with the visa if there was assistance. First, Milchan confirmed that it was Netanyahu and former Mossad chief Meir Dagan who persuaded him to be interviewed and complicated him, which is why Netanyahu considered himself responsible for the situation.
Second, and even more important, Haddad presented that as a matter of tradition the State of Israel assists Milchan's visa problems due to his security assistance to the Mossad. Former Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom helped him with the problem, as did Shimon Peres, who even had contacts with the US president in the past.
According to the Sheves ruling, even a clear alternative motive does not solve the conflict of interest problem, but even former senior officials in the State Attorney's Office agree that Milchan's history of assisting Milchan with the visa issue will make it difficult to convict on this point.
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