The (Yair) Netanyahu tape

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must be upset with his 26-year-old son Yair (“PM’s son caught on tape in Friday night jaunt to strip club,” January 9). Arrogance obviously runs in the family.

Whenever the truth manages to get out about the misdeeds of the Netanyahus, particularly the needs of the prime minister and his wife for expensive gifts such as cigars and champagne, it is called a plot to bring him down. The tape apparently was of a conversation in a car – driven at taxpayer expense – taking Yair and two friends to various nightclubs on a Friday night.

Yair told his friend, the son of businessman Kobi Maimon: “My dad arranged for your dad $20 billion and you’re fighting with me about NIS 400.” He also said that his father “arranged for your father a great deal” and fought for it in the Knesset. Maimon is heard on the tape saying that if the conversation got out, it would be “hell.”

A statement put out on behalf of the Netanyahus saying that this happened over two years ago and that Yair and his friends had been drinking is not an excuse. It is also widely believed that one actually speaks the truth while under the influence. YENTEL JACOBS

Netanya

Britain’s Prince Harry certainly sowed his wild oats in his twenties, but now, 10 or so years on, he is very popular in the UK following his engagement and forthcoming marriage. Very likely, the same will happen with Yair Netanyahu when he (hopefully) meets the right person and decides to settle down.

In the meantime, no doubt he has become the easy prey of the Israeli media and people who forget that lads will be lads, whoever their parents are. There is nothing remotely newsworthy about Yair’s antics or language. PETER SCHWEITZER

Tel Aviv