Ronald Lauder admitted buying Netanyahu gifts in graft probe
Ronald Lauder, the president of the World Jewish Congress and Estee Lauder heir, has admitted buying a designer suit for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and paying for his son’s holiday, according to an Israeli newspaper.
As the corruption probe into Netanyahu widened Monday, with detectives grilling the Israeli leader at his residence in Jerusalem, details emerged that Lauder is part of the investigation and was officially questioned back in October.
Lauder confirmed to police that he had given several gifts, including a suit, to the prime minister, and financed a trip abroad for his son, Yair, according to Haaretz.
The newspaper said police sources believe the value of the gifts is worth more than Lauder has admitted — and that they weren’t given in friendship, but in hopes of gaining a benefit.
Israeli investigators have said there are suspicions that Netanyahu and his family received gifts and other benefits worth hundreds of thousands of dollars from several business people. But their current case is focusing on two of the less serious ones, including Lauder’s, Haaretz said.
Lauder’s Israeli attorney Helena Beilin dismissed the billionaire’s involvement in the case.
She said he was summoned by police for questioning “related to a certain investigation conducted by them and in which Mr. Lauder is not its subject matter.
“After a short meeting, he was told that his presence is no longer required and that there shall be no further need for additional meetings.”
Israel’s Justice Ministry and police have not commented on the media reports.
The campaign against Netanyahu is being led by Erel Margalit, an opposition lawmaker of the Zionist Union party.
Margalit has called for an investigation into suspicions that prominent donors improperly transferred money for Netanyahu’s personal use, as well as reports that Netanyahu’s personal attorney represented a German firm involved in a $1.5 billion sale of submarines to Israel.
Netanyahu called the investigation “baseless.”
“We’ve been paying attention to reports in the media, we are hearing the celebratory mood and the atmosphere in the television studios and the corridors of the opposition, and I would like to tell them, stop with the celebrations, don’t rush,” he said. “There won’t be anything because there is nothing.”
Lauder could not immediately be reached for comment Monday.