{
  "id": 16582191,
  "title": "Australian billionaire James Packer paid firm defending Netanyahu in trial over $1.25m. - report",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/26/australian-billionaire-james-packer-paid-firm-defending-netanyahu-in",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-26T09:44:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-912887"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Australian billionaire James Packer allegedly paid a law firm defending Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over $1.25 million as part of a series of monthly transfers totaling $50,000 per month over the past two years, according to a report by The Sydney Morning Herald. The payments are said to have been made through Citibank accounts linked to Packer's company, Consolidated Press International. The payments reportedly started in September 2024 and were allegedly made for work Packer did, including finding investment deals in Israel, though Packer and his company have not yet responded to requests for evidence of the work. The report alleges that Netanyahu benefited from the payments, although The Herald has not confirmed this. The case, known as Case 1000, involves allegations that Netanyahu received gifts from Packer and billionaire Arnon Milchan, including cigars and champagne, totaling approximately NIS 690,000. Prosecutors allege the gifts were provided regularly, often in response to requests or demands, and that Netanyahu acted in Milchan's interests while in a conflict of interest.",
  "summary": "Packer declined to comment when approached by the Herald, which reported that he did not deny the payments. Hadad did not respond to the newspaper’s questions.",
  "key_points": [
    "James Packer allegedly paid over $1.25 million to defend Netanyahu.",
    "Payments totaled $50,000 monthly for two years through Citibank.",
    "Allegations of Netanyahu benefiting from Packer's work."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The alleged monthly transfers through Packer's company link high-level business interests to the legal defense of a foreign leader, potentially complicating existing corruption allegations involving improper gifts.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}