Meet Arnon Milchan, the Hollywood Magnate Who Plied Bibi With Cigars and Booze
Image by Getty Images
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has seen the pressure on him mount, as the police announced questioning him a second time as a suspect for possible graft charges. And as the details spill out, it appears that at the center of the scandal is Arnon Milchan, a Hollywood producer who plied the premier with high-end liquor and alcohol and cigars valued in the thousands of dollars.
Here are four quick facts about the film magnate and friend of Bibi.
1. Helped Make “Pretty Woman”
Milchan is one of Hollywood’s most prolific moviemakers, producing hundreds of feature-length movies, among them “Pretty Woman,” “L.A. Confidential” and “12 Years a Slave.” He’s worked with Martin Scorsese and is close personal friends with Oliver Stone, Robert De Niro and Roman Polanski.
2. Owns Stake in Israeli Media
Milchan owns a 10 percent stake in the Israeli Channel 10. The broadcaster produces both news and entertainment programming, and is one of the biggest media platforms in Israel.
3. Confirmed Arms Dealer
Milchan, by his own admission and that of the late Shimon Peres, has aided in Israel in making arms deals and procuring weapons. His activities have included securing materials for Israel’s nuclear program and overseeing bank accounts and front companies associated with the Jewish state’s armaments and intelligence programs.
4. Married to Ex-Tennis Star
Milchan is married to Amanda Coetzer, a former South African tennis pro, who back in the ‘90’s was ranked among the top 20 females in the sport worldwide. She was known for defeating other players ranked far higher than her, and earned a whopping $5.5 million in prize money during her career.
Contact Daniel J. Solomon at [email protected] or on Twitter @DanielJSolomon
Why I became the Forward’s editor-in-chief
You are surely a friend of the Forward if you’re reading this. And so it’s with excitement and awe — of all that the Forward is, was, and will be — that I introduce myself to you as the Forward’s newest editor-in-chief.
And what a time to step into the leadership of this storied Jewish institution! For 129 years, the Forward has shaped and told the American Jewish story. I’m stepping in at an intense time for Jews the world over. We urgently need the Forward’s courageous, unflinching journalism — not only as a source of reliable information, but to provide inspiration, healing and hope.
— Alyssa Katz, editor-in-chief
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
