Netanyahu’s son criticised after ‘strip club’ tape is broadcast

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s son has been caught on tape apparently drunk outside of a strip club talking about a major natural gas deal.

The audio recording of Yair Netanyahu, 26, who has been the subject of controversy in the past, was broadcast by Israel’s Channel 2 television on Monday.

In the recording, said to be from 2015, he can be heard speaking with the son of Kobi Maimon, a stakeholder in a company that owns a share in Israel’s Tamar gasfield.

Their conversation includes talk of strippers and prostitutes.

“My dad arranged $20 billion for your dad. You can give me 400 shekels (Dh425),” he says.

Yair Netanyahu has apologised and said he was joking about the gas deal while “under the influence of alcohol”.

“These statements do not represent who I am, nor the values on which I was raised,” he said. “Regarding what I said about the gas deal, it was a joke. Anyone with a bit of common sense understands that right away.”

His father faced a difficult political battle over Israel’s natural gas deals, with opponents saying they overly favoured the companies involved.

Labour party leader Avi Gabbay said the recording was a “new stain on the corrupt gas deal”.

There was also criticism over Yair Netanyahu’s security arrangements. A guard employed by the state reportedly accompanied him to the strip club.

The Netanyahus denounced the broadcast, saying it was part of a “witch-hunt against the family that has reached an unprecedented low.

“Apparently, everything is fair game to attack the Netanyahu government and family, including using a secret and illegal recording of young men drinking alcohol.”