Netanyahu: ‘Leave my family alone’

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded Monday to recent allegations that his wife Sara would drink heavily and verbally abuse Prime Minister’s Residence staff.

He said the allegations were being publicized to harm him politically, and asked that his family be left alone.

In written testimonies to the Jerusalem Labor Court as part of a suit filed by the Prime Minister’s Residence former caretaker Menny Naftali, Guy Eliyahu and Emmanuel Sela alleged that their rights were routinely infringed upon while they were employed by the couple at the official household.

Eliyahu’s testimony also said that over 20 employees had quit during Netanyahu’s tenure at the Prime Minister’s Residence.

Eliyahu defended Naftali’s accusations against Sara Netanyahu, alleging that he had witnessed a number of transgressions against his former coworker by the prime minister’s wife.

“As a worker in the residence I was witness to improper behavior by Sara Netanyahu toward Naftali, including shouting and degrading him. I was also hassled constantly. For example, Mrs. Netanyahu would ask me to bring her food late at night and when I would arrive with the requested food, she would accuse me of causing her to gain weight.”

In a statement posted to Facebook and Twitter, the prime minister criticized the “media onslaught” against his wife, calling it “a new low” for leading members of the Israeli media, and claiming the allegations were only being publicized to hurt him and his political career.

“The ‘anything but Bibi’ campaign has turned into a ‘anything but Sara’ campaign,” Netanyahu wrote.

“So please,” he continued, “I will write it here in the clearest way possible: Anyone who wishes to attack my policies in a relevant way — you are more than welcome. Leave my family alone.”