We’ve got more detail on the corruption investigation into Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. As we noted earlier, there appear to be two unconnected investigations. One a sleazy but not terribly remarkable gifts scandal, the other apparently more serious and involving a taped recording of Netanyahu.
Now the unidentified businessman in the latter case turns out to be Arnon Mozes, publisher of Yedioth Ahronoth, one of Israel’s biggest papers (Ynet is the online version and available in English). And it seems to involve a deal in which Netanyahu would limit the growth of Sheldon Adelson’s free paper Israel Hayom in return for pro-Netanyahu coverage.
From Ha’aretz …
Media tycoon Arnon Mozes is the businessman who negotiated a quid pro quo with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in conversations caught on tape that came to light on Sunday.
Haaretz reported Sunday that suspicions in the main corruption affair involving Netanyahu are backed by recordings documenting contacts between him and a businessman over mutual benefits.
According to Channel 2, several months ago Netanyahu offered Mozes, publisher of the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, a deal that would limit the circulation of the free daily Israel Hayom, Yedioth’s top competitor and widely regarded as the prime minister’s mouthpiece. In return, Mozes would make Yedioth’s coverage more sympathetic to Netanyahu.
