Milchan says he gave cigars and bubbly to Netanyahus, requests for gifts ‘became routine’

Arnon Milchan acknowledges that he gave champagne, cigars, and jewelry to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara, adding that he had initiated the gifts, specifically champagne.

Millchan says that after the first few times he gave them gifts, the Netanyahus began making the requests themselves and the three would use code words: Cigars were “leaves,” champagne was “pink” and shirts for the prime minister were “dwarves.”

“I gave Hadas Klein a free hand and said whatever the prime minister — [you have] carte blanche,” Milchan says, referring to his assistant. “I was doing this not as friend but as a citizen. I didn’t want the prime minister to have problems not connected to his job.”

“It became routine,” he adds.

“The relationship was very comfortable so there was no bad feeling about it [giving the presents]. The amounts got more and more, at the request of the recipients,” Milchan continues.

He also says that he asked Netanyahu if it was okay to give the premier gifts. “Bibi said he checked and that you can give gifts to friends, except for a house,” adds Milchan, using Netanyahu’s nickname.

Milchan requests a second recess and leaves the hall in Brighton where he is testifying. Earlier, Milchan requested that his testimony today be shortened by an hour, alluding to medical issues.