Netanyahu sues station over travel story

Benjamin Netanyahu, Chairman of the Likud opposition party, speaks at a session of the General Assembly of United Jewish Communities in Los Angeles, USA, in this Monday, Nov. 13, 2006 file photo. Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu filed a libel suit Sunday, March 16, 2008, against an Israeli TV channel for publishing what it said was an astronomic tab he ran up during a trip to London. (AP Photo/David Karp, File)

JERUSALEM—A former Israeli prime minister filed a lawsuit Sunday against a broadcaster that reported he ran up a huge tab in London while Israel was at war.

The Channel 10 report claimed Benjamin Netanyahu spent more than $50,000 while on a six-day public relations tour during Israel's war against Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon in the summer of 2006. The tab included staying with his wife at the Connaught Hotel -- one of London's finest -- first class airfare, bar bills, meals, dry cleaning and $3,170 for theater tickets, the report said.

The report portrayed Netanyahu, Israel's opposition leader and the current front-runner in national polls for the country's top job, and his wife, Sarah, as spending money lavishly while the country was at war. The report also alleged some of the money came from a wealthy supporter, which could constitute an ethics violation.

Netanyahu says the report was inaccurate and politically motivated. His lawyers filed the lawsuit in a Tel Aviv court, demanding $578,000 in damages from the station.

"I paid for my personal expenses out of my own pocket," Netanyahu said in a news conference Sunday. "I acted for the state, not at the expense of the state."

A Netanyahu spokesman, Avi Harow, said the trip was paid for by State of Israel Bonds, a New York-based organization that sells securities issues by the Israeli government, by British Jewish groups, and by Netanyahu himself. Everything was done according to parliamentary guidelines, he said.

The Channel 10 reporter, Raviv Drucker, declined comment. The station released a statement that said: "Everything said in Raviv Drucker's report was based on documents we obtained."

(This version CORRECTS name of securities company.)