Recordings of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in secret conversations with the most powerful press baron in Israel focused attention this week on the relationship between politicians and the media.

The recordings, which are now the basis of a case in which the attorney general is expected to indict Mr Netanyahu on fraud and breach of trust charges, Yedioth Ahronot publisher Arnon Mozes is heard saying that the dealings between them are “about ensuring you are prime minister”.

For the past two decades Yedioth Ahronot the best-selling Israeli daily tabloid, has been critical of Mr Netanyahu, prompting the prime minister to repeatedly attack the paper and Mr Mozes publicly.

In 2007, American casino mogul and Netanyahu-supporter Sheldon Adelson founded the Yisrael Hayom freesheet, which was seen by many as not only an attempt to provide Mr Netanyahu with a supportive newspaper, but to undercut Yedioth’s print-based advertising profits.

The recordings, which were broadcast on Channel 13, are from the meetings which took place at the prime minister’s residence in 2014. They were made, unbeknownst to Mr Mozes but with Mr Netanyahu’s knowledge, on an aide’s smartphone.

They suggest the publisher was trying to counter the threat to his paper with a law that would have forced Yisrael Hayom to charge a cover price, and a deal with Mr Netanyahu.

In the recordings, Mr Netanyahu is heard telling Mr Mozes: “if you take me down, I’ll come after you with everything I’ve got. It will become my life’s mission.” He adds: “The reports you write, they’re all biased.”

Mr Mozes responds by discussing the various pro-Netanyahu writers he could hire to counter this. They also discuss various business people who Mr Netanyahu could convince to become investors in Yedioth, or even buy the paper from Mr Mozes.

The prime minister initially agreed to support the Yisrael Hayom bill, but he eventually changed his position and began to adamantly oppose it.

With the support of many members of his coalition, he dissolved the Knesset after the bill passed its first reading.

The State Prosecutor believes the recordings, along with other evidence, are sufficient to construct a charge of bribery against Mr Mozes and of fraud and breach of trust against Mr Netanyahu for having engaged in the dealings and not reported them.

Both potential defendants have had pre-trial hearings and the attorney general is expected to announce his final decision on whether to indict in the coming weeks.

Mr Netanyahu’s spokesperson said the recordings contained only “empty talk”, adidng: “Anyone who listens to the entirety of the tapes between Netanyahu and Mozes will understand very well that it was Mozes who was extorting and threatening Netanyahu.”