File: The audio recording of Yair Netanyahu (seen here with his father Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) includes talk of strippers and prostitutes.
JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&39;s son has been caught on tape seemingly drunk outside a strip club talking about a key natural gas deal, leading to political fallout on Tuesday.
The audio recording of Yair Netanyahu, who has been the subject of controversy in the past, was aired by Israel&39;s Channel 2 television late Monday.
On the recording, said to be from 2015, Yair Netanyahu, now 26, can be heard speaking with the son of Kobi Maimon, a stakeholder in a company that owns a share in Israel&39;s offshore Tamar gas field.
Their conversation includes talk of strippers and prostitutes.
"My dad arranged $20-billion for your dad -- you can give me 400 shekels ($116/97 euros)," he says.
Yair Netanyahu issued a statement apologising and saying he was only joking about the gas deal while "under the influence of alcohol".
"These statements do not represent who I am nor the values on which I was raised," he said.
"Regarding what I said about the gas deal, it was a joke. Anyone with a bit of common sense understands that right way."
Netanyahu faced a difficult political battle over Israel&39;s natural gas arrangements, with opponents saying they overly favour the companies involved.
Labour party leader Avi Gabbay said the recording was a "new stain on the corrupt gas deal."
There was also criticism over Yair Netanyahu&39;s security arrangements. A security guard employed by the state purportedly accompanied Yair Netanyahu to the strip club.
Netanyahu&39;s office said it "is not consulted on protection arrangements for his children decided upon by the security services."
The Netanyahus in a statement denounced the broadcast of the recording, saying it was part of a "witch-hunt against the family that has reached an unprecedented low."
"Apparently, everything is fair game to attack the Netanyahu government and family, including using a secret and illegal recording of young men drinking alcohol."
