One of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's top defense lawyers dropped his client after the premier was denied permission to receive private funding for his legal team, sources said on Wednesday.
Netanyahu, who is standing trial over corruption allegations, which he denies, had sought 10 million shekels ($2.9 million) from his U.S. billionaire friend, Spencer Partrich, to help cover legal fees.
But following a recommendation from Israel's attorney general, a committee in the state comptroller's office blocked Netanyahu from accepting the loan on grounds it amounted to an improper gift to a government official.
The 70-year-old premier, whose personal fortune has been estimated at more than $10 million, was also ordered to return some of the money he received from his American cousin, Nathan Milikowsky, to cover legal expenses.
Following those setbacks, defense lawyer Micha Fettman resigned from the right-wing premier's defense team.
Multiple Israeli media outlets reported Wednesday that the resignation was linked to money and the prospect that Fettman's fees would not be covered.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with his attorneys in the Jerusalem District Court
(Photo: Amit Shabi)
A source directly linked to the case confirmed to AFP that Fettman's departure from the case was connected to the committee's decision to block Netanyahu from receiving private funding.
Netanyahu was indicted in January for seeking to illegally trade favors in exchange for positive media coverage, as well as accepting cigars, champagne, and jewelry worth 700,000 shekels ( $200,00) from wealthy personalities in exchange for favors.
Netanyahu, who in May forged a new unity government after more than a year of political turmoil, insists the charges were trumped up to drive him from office.
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Jerusalem District Court before the opening of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption trial
(Photo: Eli Mandelbaum)
The next trial date at the Jerusalem District Court is scheduled for July 19, but the session is expected to be procedural and Netanyahu is not obliged to attend.
Under Israeli law, a sitting prime minister is only required to resign if convicted of a criminal offense with all appeals exhausted, which in Netanyahu's case, could take several years.