(Jpost).Jewish billionaire and Netanyahu supporter Sheldon Adelson had a lot to say Wednesday at Beit Hanassi when journalists began to ask him whether he was going to close down his newspaper Yisrael Hayom, which rumor had it had been founded solely to put Netanyahu into office.
Declaring that any suggestion of closure was a figment of the imagination of Yediot Aharonot columnist Nahum Barnea, Adelson denied that his publication had been established to serve Netanyahu's campaign. "My purpose in starting Yisrael Hayom was to have a fair and balanced paper," he said. He also charged that Yediot Aharonot had denigrated his newspaper before he even started it.
Contrary to what has been published in numerous Israeli media outlets, Adelson, though pleased that Netanyahu is now prime minister, stated that his paper, though critical of Olmert, had not been established to boost Netanyahu. 'We're simply friends. We have the same views. We're also honored to be acquainted with Shimon Peres, and his views are different from ours.'
Asked what he expected from Netanyahu, Adelson enigmatically replied: "I expect from Netanyahu what I expected from Olmert."
Adelson, who had attended the Knesset session the previous day, was shocked by the lack of dignity. He also considers the political gossip in the newspapers to be "shameful."
