According to the investigation, the first monthly retainer payment from the Citibank account of Packer's firm Consolidated Press International was made on September 23, 2024, to the account of Hadad Roth Shenhar at Israel's Mizrahi Tefahot bank. A source aware of the payments, not authorised to speak publicly, said they should be urgently investigated to determine whether Netanyahu was receiving an undisclosed benefit. The mastheads have not confirmed that Netanyahu benefited from the payments.
Packer, the 59-year-old former media mogul, did not deny the payments but declined to comment. A source familiar with his financial dealings insisted the wire transfers were for work done for Packer, including "deal finding" in Israel, and were unrelated to the prime minister's court case. The papers subsequently requested evidence of any deals in Israel or work undertaken by the law firm, but neither Packer nor his company has yet responded. Consolidated Press Holdings also did not reply to detailed questions.
The law firm, led by Netanyahu's primary defence attorney Amit Hadad, is defending the prime minister against allegations he unlawfully accepted luxury goods from Packer and film producer Arnon Milchan between 2014 and 2016, and is also helping him contest allegations that he improperly traded favours with an Israeli newspaper publisher and telecommunications company. Netanyahu, Israel's longest serving prime minister and the country's first sitting leader to be charged with a crime, was indicted in 2019 on fraud and breach of trust charges over gifts worth about $295,000. He completed his evidence in July, and the court is yet to deliver a verdict.
Israeli authorities have repeatedly blocked Netanyahu from receiving funds from wealthy backers to pay for his defence, and he has unsuccessfully sought legal permission allowing overseas friends to fund Hadad Roth Shenhar. Packer became entangled in the case after gifting Netanyahu champagne and cigars more than a decade ago. He has not been accused of wrongdoing and has not been called as a witness. Australian Federal Police officers interviewed Packer in late 2017 on behalf of their Israeli counterparts, stressing he was a witness, not a suspect, and that he co-operated fully.
Transparency International's Australian director, Clancy Moore, said the payments demanded urgent and independent scrutiny. "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," he said. Moore cautioned that evidence might yet show the payments were unrelated to Netanyahu, but noted Israeli authorities had repeatedly ruled that Netanyahu cannot use funds from foreign benefactors for his legal defence due to conflict of interests and his failure to disclose his wealth.
When asked about the allegations on Monday morning, a spokesperson for Netanyahu said: "I couldn't give a monkey's about your questions. We are very busy. We have an election on right now." Tuesday's election is a crucial juncture for the Middle East, with Netanyahu's right-wing government facing potential defeat. His removal from office would trigger a reset of the conflicts in Iran and Gaza and redraw the relationship between Jerusalem and US President Donald Trump.