The latest allegations being made against Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu allege that in 2001, French billionaire Arnaud Mimran gave Netanyahu over €1 million in campaign contributions. The Prime Minister’s Office, which first denied the report, now states Mr. Netanyahu received $40,000. Mimran is currently standing trial in France for tax fraud. The origin of the report is the daily Haaretz, which alleges Mr. Netanyahu has maintained a long-time relationship with the billionaire and that he has been making use of an apartment owned by the family in Paris’ 16th Arrondissement.

Mimran was quoted by Israel’s Channel 10 News stating he gave Netanyahu €170,000, deposited into his personal bank account. Mr. Netanyahu has since explained the money was contributed to a fund he ran, not taken personally, and the sum was recorded as required by law. Mimran reportedly added that one cannot hide this for there are records of transactions and he gave $150,000, not $40,000 for public activities as the PMO’s confirms. There were campaign contributions and money for public activities.

Mimran is denying the accuracy of the statements quoting him, insisting he never said he gave Netanyahu €1 million in 2001, adding at that time the currency was still the franc, not the euro. The equivalent of 1 million francs he explains is about €170,000. He adds Netanyahu did not run in the 2001 elections, an election that elected only the Prime Minister and not the Knesset. Ariel Sharon defeated Ehud Barak in that election. Mimran confirms he and Mr. Netanyahu have been friends for many years.

Maitre Schnerb, the lawyer for Arnaud Mimran, told the J. Post the statements made by PM Netanyahu are correct and it is possible his client erred during the interview with Channel 10 News last week. Mr. Schnerb is working with Channel 10 to clear up the matter.

The final version, the one given by PM Netanyahu and now supported by Mr. Mimran is that $40,000 was transferred to Mr. Netanyahu back in 2001 for public activities, and money was not placed into a private bank account.

In a somewhat related matter, the Israeli press did not miss an opportunity to embarrass itself, questioning Mr. Netanyahu about the alleged scandal during his joint press conference in Russia with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Mr. Netanyahu responded, but one could see the level of discomfort on the Russian leader’s face as his guest was defending himself against a local scandal during this high-level diplomatic visit. Many feel that once again the Israeli media has shown it has long crossed the red-line of accepted norms, preferring to push diplomatic etiquette aside for the scoop.

In his response, PM Netanyahu stated this is part of the ongoing witch hunt against him and Mrs. Netanyahu, pointing out his opponents are now digging up events dating back to 2001 to discredit him.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)