A crowdfunding campaign opened Sunday to raise funds to cover the legal defense of former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, should he decide not to sign a plea deal and his trial continues.
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Within an hour, the campaign – launched by right-wing media journalist and former Habayit Hayehudi MK Yinon Magal – raised 500,000 shekels ($161,000). Some donors ponied up relatively small sums of tens or hundreds of shekels, but others made more substantial contributions.
In a Twitter message, Magal said that he had not discussed the crowdfunding campaign with Netanyahu or asked his opinion of the idea. "I just assumed that even a well-off person will find expenses that could total tens of millions a burden, and a consideration when it comes to his trial. As someone who thinks he [Netanyahu] is fighting for me, as well, it's the least I could do."
