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Israeli PM questioned for 6th time in corruption probe

November 20, 2017 at 5:37 am

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seen during a press conference with the Greek Prime Minister in 2010 [MathKnight/Flickr]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been questioned by Israeli police for the sixth time since being named as a suspect last year amid allegations of corruption.

Netanyahu, who was reportedly grilled for four hours on Sunday, responded on Twitter.

“I say in absolute confidence: there will be nothing because there is nothing,” the prime minister tweeted Sunday night.

In a statement, the Israeli police said Netanyahu had been interrogated for “several hours” in his Jerusalem residence.

The statement, however, did not provide any more details about the ongoing investigation.

Read More: Corruption in Israel is not just an Israeli issue

Since last year, Netanyahu has been the subject of a criminal investigation in two separate corruption cases. He has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

The first case involves Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan, who was allegedly asked to purchase luxury items for Netanyahu and his wife.

The second case relates to allegations that Netanyahu struck a deal for more favourable media coverage with Arnon Mozes, publisher of popular Hebrew-language newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.

Netanyahu’s wife, Sara, was also questioned by police regarding earlier corruption allegations.

Sara stands accused of receiving “lavish and inappropriate” gifts from wealthy businessmen and paying bribes to a media mogul in return for favorable coverage.

She, too, has been questioned within the context of an ongoing investigation into accusations that Netanyahu used state funds for personal expenditures.