Israeli businessman Eli Azur has emerged as the leading candidate to buy news website Walla! from Bezeq The Israel Telecommunication Corporation Limited (TASE:BEZQ), Globes reported, citing sources. Bezeq and Azur have been in advanced negotiations for a protracted period, it said. Azur owns the Jerusalem Post and Maariv newspapers and has a stake in some of Israel's leading sports channels and radio stations. He is believed to be offering Bezeq about ILS 40-50 million for Walla!, according to Globes. Bezeq notified the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) in May 2018 that it planned to sell Walla! Bezeq was initially asking ILS 180 million, which was considered unrealistic. Azur was interested in acquiring Walla! from the outset but the gap between his offer and Bezeq's asking price made any progress in talks impossible, said Globes.