JERUSALEM (AP) – Israeli police questioned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday for the second time over allegations that he improperly accepted gifts from wealthy supporters, pressing ahead with a probe that has threatened to challenge his entrenched leadership even as he has adamantly denied wrongdoing.
Israeli media said investigators arrived at Netanyahu’s official residence in Jerusalem on Thursday in a probe that, according to local media, allegedly involves high-profile figures in international business and Hollywood. A grilling on Monday lasted more than three hours. Police had no immediate comment.
Few details of the allegations against Netanyahu have been officially released, with Israel’s Justice Ministry disclosing only that Netanyahu was being questioned “on suspicion of receiving benefits from business people.”
But Israeli media have reported that Netanyahu accepted “favors” from businessmen in Israel and abroad, allegedly including billionaire Ronald Lauder and Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan. Israeli Channel 2 TV has said that Netanyahu is the central suspect in a second investigation that also involves family members.
Netanyahu has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, portraying the accusations as a witch hunt against him and his family by a hostile media opposed to his hard-line political views.