The Likud party this week denied charges that its leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, misused funds he raised for Jewish settlers at gatherings in New York last September.
According to the Jerusalem Post, the allegations against Netanyahu were made by Jack Avital, an officer of the New York-based World Committee for Israel.
Avital charged that Netanyahu used nearly $200,000 to help cover the party’s deficit instead of directing the funds to the Council of Jewish Settlements in Judea, Samaria and Gaza, a group representing settlers’ interests. The fund-raising events were sponsored by committee members.
The Likud has countered that the amount in question was much less than $200,000 and that it was earmarked for Likud.
The party’s legal adviser, Eitan Haberman, reportedly said the money helped pay for a demonstration in Jerusalem co-sponsored by Likud and other groups against the self-rule accord.
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