Netanyahu angrily rejected the accusations, which included accepting nearly $300,000 USD in gifts from a pair of billionaires. Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, a bitter rival of Netanyahu, called on him to suspend himself and for the coalition to appoint a replacement on Wednesday morning. It said Netanyahu had accepted gifts valued at 750,000 shekels ($214,000) from Milchan, and 250,000 shekels (or $71,000) from Packer. It said he also helped Milchan, an Israeli producer whose credits include “Pretty Woman,” ”12 Years a Slave“ and ”JFK,“ in the Israeli media market. Netanyahu, who has been prime minister for nine straight years, and his family have become embroiled in a series of scandals in recent months.

Source: National Post February 13, 2018 19:10 UTC