Comptroller to release report on Netanyahus’ spending

A government report into allegations of excessive expenditures and possible misappropriation of state funds by the Netanyahu family may be released ahead of Election Day on March 17.

The allegations, which surfaced in recent weeks in a lawsuit by a former employee of the Prime Minister’s Residence, and have been taken up by the election campaigns of parties hoping to oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, suggest Netanyahu’s wife Sara pocketed thousands of shekels in returns on bottles recycled by the Prime Minister’s Residence.

Since drinks consumed in the Prime Minister’s Residence are purchased by the state, any funds accruing from them belong by law to the state treasury.

The Netanyahus said the funds were collected by them inadvertently, and noted that some NIS 4,000 ($1,017) were returned to state coffers in 2013 by Sara Netanyahu under the supervision of the Prime Minister’s Office financial regulator.

Statements from the prime minister in recent days accused left-wing parties of engaging in “personal” attacks against his family instead of substantive debate.

State Comptroller Yosef Shapira promised Sunday to publish a report on his investigation of the case after Haaretz reported over the weekend that the Netanyahus’ attorney David Shimron had requested a delay.

The comptroller’s office denied it had agreed to the delay and said Shapira’s office was preparing the report for publication. No date was given for publication.

Shimron said he had asked that the report be widened to detail spending under other prime ministers, so that there was “a basis for comparison.” He told Army Radio on Sunday that a previous prime minister’s spending at his residences had been particularly large, but would not disclose which leader he had in mind.

The report goes beyond the recycled-bottles controversy and reportedly examines overall spending on luxuries in the premier’s residence on items such as flower arrangements, scented candles and catering.

According to the State Comptroller’s Office, Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein was informed some six months ago about the contents of the investigation.

Tzipi Livni, head of Hatnua and co-leader of the Labor-led Zionist Camp Knesset slate, charged over the weekend that the Prime Minister’s Office under Netanyahu consumed a minimum wage’s worth of alcohol, some NIS 4,300 each month.

The PMO retorted on Sunday that an inquiry by the PMO’s financial regulator’s office showed the Prime Minister’s Residence purchased on average a single bottle of wine per day during 2013 and 2014.