The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has been forced to defend himself as a cascade of alleged leaks from two police investigations that saw him formally interviewed by detectives on two separate occasions in the last week hit Israeli media.

Netanyahu strongly denies any wrongdoing in relation to the two cases – including receiving tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of gifts from a billionaire Hollywood producer. However, the claims have led his supporters to rally round to insist that even if he were charged he could continue in office.



It comes amid reports that at least one key member of his coalition had already begun sounding out other political leaders in the event of Netanyahu’s resignation.

Speaking at a Likud meeting on Sunday morning, he told members of his party: “To my dismay I cannot provide details. What I can tell you today, now that I know what this is about, and I will tell you this with full confidence: nothing will be found because there is nothing.”

Netanyahu has been questioned under caution in relation to two separate investigations – the so-called Case 1000 and Case 2000. He was questioned by detectives for five hours at his official residence on Thursday, following questioning on Monday.

The first investigation – Case 1000 – concerns regular gifts of expensive cigars to Netanyahu and pink champagne for his wife Sara given over the years by Arnon Milchan, the wealthy producer behind the films Fight Club and Pretty Woman who also owns shares in the Israeli television company Channel 10.

Neither Netanyahu nor Milchan denies the gifts, with the Israeli prime minister’s lawyer, Yaakov Weinroth, insisting last week that “any reasonable person knows that there is nothing remotely criminal involved when a close friend gives his friend a gift of cigars”.

The second inquiry, however, had been kept under wraps in conditions of the tightest secrecy, although it had been said to relate to Netanyahu’s relationship with another very wealthy Israeli businessman and allegations of influence trading.

Pressure has mounted on Netanyahu over the weekend with a series of new leaks from both cases, including the claim that he had intervened on Milchan’s behalf with the US secretary of state, John Kerry, to help Milchan acquire a 10-year visa.

His problems were compounded on Sunday by new revelations in the Israeli media regarding the second case, including reports it was prompted by the discovery by police of a tape recording of Netanyahu discussing favours in return for political support. The Guardian has not independently verified the existence of the tape.

Israeli television and papers named another wealthy media tycoon, Arnon Mozes, the owner of the Yedioth Ahronot newspaper, as being involved in the investigation.

Before Sunday’s new claims in the second case, Netanyahu’s lawyer said: “We’re not talking about money, we’re not talking about loans, we’re not talking about anything that constitutes a crime,” adding there was “no suspicion, no trace, of a criminal offence in all of this”.

Netanyahu’s ”nothing will be found because there is nothing” has become his mantra in recent weeks as he has suffered a serious political blow from the inquiries that have led some to speculate whether he can survive.



Addressing that question, David Bitan, the chairman of Netanyahu’s coalition, tried to insist that even if Netanyahu were to be indicted – which he insisted would not happen – Netanyahu would not need not to resign.

Figures in Israel’s opposition, however, called on Netanyahu to suspend himself in response both to the police inquiry and the emerging reports that they argue has cast a cloud over his office.

Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak led the charge, writing on Twitter: “Shock! Bibi can’t continue to serve as prime minister. Those with integrity among his ministers will be forced to lead him out or to lose their world as well. An end to the footdragging.”