PM’s wife threatens mag with lawsuit
Amid spending scandal, Sara Netanyahu demands women's fashion weekly postpone feature spread about her until after election
Lawyers for the Netanyahu family threatened women’s fashion magazine “At” with legal action Tuesday over a feature spread of Sara Netanyahu set to be published Wednesday. The prime minister’s wife wants it postponed until after elections.
The piece comes amid a potential criminal investigation that could emerge from allegations by an ex-caretaker and by the State Comptroller of abuse of funds at the Prime Minister’s Residence, as Israel gears up for elections on March 17.
Lawyers hired by the couple rejected claims that any criminal offense was committed by either the prime minister or his wife.
Sara Netanyahu initially accepted the offer to appear in the magazine, including posing for pictures and giving an interview.
However, according to a Channel 10 report, she changed her mind and requested that the feature be postponed until after elections.
Following a protracted exchange of letters, the magazine refused and Netanyahu’s lawyers sent the “At” editorial board cease and desist letters Tuesday threatening them with legal action should the spread be published Wednesday.
“At” is the feminine version of the Hebrew word for “you.”
A report released by state comptroller Yosef Shapira last week detailed lavish spending by Netanyahu and his wife Sara at his official residence in Jerusalem and private home in Caesarea, raising suspicion of possible criminal misdeeds.
The Netanyahus could face criminal charges over the accusation that Sara Netanyahu pocketed some NIS 4,000 ($1,035) of bottle refunds for recycling. Accusations that she purchased a set of patio furniture identical to the patio furniture at the official residence, which was subsequently delivered to the Netanyahu’s private residence, could also get them in trouble. A third alleged scandal, over a scheme to overpay electrician Avi Pachima — an apparent Likud apparatchik — by inviting him to do work on weekends and holidays and a subsequent cover-up, may also result in criminal charges.
Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein is evaluating the evidence, and is expected to make a decision on how to proceed before the elections.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.