Netanyahu: 'If I wanted to contact Elovitch I could have picked up a telephone'

Netanyahu faces three cases against him: case 4000, case 2000, and case 1000. 

By MICHAEL STARR DECEMBER 16, 2024 10:10 Updated: DECEMBER 16, 2024 10:53

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives at the Tel Aviv District Court. December 16, 2024. (photo credit: YOSSI ZELIGER)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the idea that Zeev Rubinstein, a mutual friend of Netanyahu and co-defendant and Walla and Bezeq owner Shaul Elovitch, acted as a middleman in a media bribery scheme, arguing at his corruption trial in Tel Aviv on Monday that if he wanted to speak to Elovitch, he could have done so directly.

"If I wanted to contact Elovitch, I could have picked up the telephone," said Netanyahu.

It made no sense for the prime minister to work during intermediaries during what Netanyahu said was the "money time" of his political campaign, when every moment counted. When immediate response was required, Rubinstein was in the United States in a different time zone. Further, his friend did not have the necessary understanding of Israeli politics.

Netanyhau said that the testimonies of others reflected that if Rubinstein spoke to Elovitch about Walla's media coverage, he acted of his own accord out of a desire to please the prime minister's wife, Sara Netanyahu.

"I don't remember that I spoke to Rubenstein once during the campaign," said Netanyahu.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives at the Tel Aviv District Court. December 16, 2024. (credit: YOSSI ZELIGER)

Netanyahu faces three cases against him: case 4000, case 2000, and case 1000. 

Case 4000

Case 4000 accuses Netanyahu of bribery in an alleged scheme with co-defendants Shaul and Iris Elovitch to exchange positive news coverage on Walla for Netanyahu’s implementation of policies favorable to Elovitch’s Bezeq telecommunications. Case 2000 alleges that Netanyahu sought to weaken the newspaper Yisrael Hayom with legislation in return for positive coverage from publisher Arnon Mozes's Yediot Aharonot. In Case 1000, Netanyahu is alleged to have received expensive gifts in return for furthering the interests of businessman Arnon Milchan.