Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged on Monday that he had received contributions from a French tycoon on trial for alleged fraud, but said they were not political and were used for promoting Israel, AFP reports.
During his trial in France, Arnaud Mimran said he had given one million Euro ($1.1 million US) in campaign contributions to Netanyahu in 2001, when the Israeli leader was not in public office.
The allegation has received widespread attention in Israel, with the country's attorney general examining Mimran's testimony.
"Mr. Mimran contributed to Mr. Netanyahu's public activity in the early 2000s, when Mr. Netanyahu was a private citizen and held no political position," a statement from the Prime Minister's office said. "Those activities for Mr. Netanyahu involved media appearances and numerous travel abroad in the service of the state of Israel in accordance with the law."