Adelson to expand in Israel
US casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson is – again – trying to buy Israeli paid daily Ma’ariv. Adelson, owner of Israeli free daily Israel Today, and earlier of the now-defunct freesheet Israeli, already tried to buy the paper twice in the last years.
After his first attempts failed two years ago he invested in Israeli, but ended up in court with his co-owner Shlomo Ben-Zvi. Israeli was closed down at the end of 2007. On the remains the free daily 24 Minutes (by tabloid Yedioth Ahronoth) was erected (see previous post).
A year ago Adelson again tried to buy Ma’ariv but ended up starting Israel Today when the deal – again – did not succeed (see previous post).
According to Globes the price for Ma’ariv has gone down to $100 million, after owner Ofer Nimrodi asked $180 million two years ago. Also paid paper Haaretz is said to be interested in Ma’ariv.