ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER’S WIFE CHARGED WITH FRAUD.
JERUSALEM • The corruption scandal surrounding Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, took a new turn Thursday when his wife Sara was charged with fraud and accused of illegally claiming $132,000 for gourmet meals. While both Mr. and Mrs. Netanyahu have been subject to widespread allegations in recent years, the indictment filed yesterday marks the first time either has been charged with a crime.
Israeli prosecutors said Sara Netanyahu pretended that there was no chef working at the prime minister’s residence in order to claim public money for lavish outside catering, when a chef was in fact already employed on taxpayers’ money.
The Netanyahus have repeatedly denied wrongdoing and said the raft of police investigations launched against them were part of a plot by the prime minister’s political enemies to destabilize his government.
Israeli police recommended in February that Benjamin Netanyahu face charges for accepting $350,000 worth of bribes. The decision on whether to actually bring charges lies with Avichai Mandelblit, Israel’s Attorney General.
Israeli commentators have raised questions over whether Mandelblit, who was once Netanyahu’s cabinet secretary, has the independence to bring charges against his former political benefactor. His decision to indict Sara Netanyahu is likely to put some of those questions to rest and be taken as a sign he is prepared to move against the prime minister.
However, the length of time it has taken his office to charge Sara Netanyahu for alleged crimes between 2010-2013 suggests it may be months or even years before he reaches a decision about the more complex allegations against the prime minister.
The charges against Sara Netanyahu were not a surprise and her lawyers were reportedly in negotiations with prosecutors to try to reach a deal to avoid an indictment. The negotiations fell through, according to Hadashot TV news.
Benjamin Netanyahu remains popular in Israel and polls suggest that if an election were held today his Likud Party would win.
Netanyahu has been able to rally his base by presenting himself as the victim of a politically motivated witch hunt. He may find himself on shakier ground politically if he is indicted, although he is under no legal obligation to resign if charged. Israeli police have recommended charging Netanyahu in two separate investigations. The first probe focused on claims that Netanyahu and his family illegally accepted extravagant gifts from two wealthy businessmen in return for political favours.
The second involves allegations that Netanyahu offered a corrupt deal to the publisher of Yedioth Ahronoth, one of Israel’s largest newspapers.
He has denied wrongdoing in both cases and has not been charged with any crime.