Sara Netanyahu released from hospital, a week after appendix removed

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife Sara was released from Jerusalem’s Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital Friday after nine days under treatment. Netanyahu had her appendix removed last Friday, and had remained in recovery over the past week.

The Prime Minister’s Office has said the premier’s wife is recovering well from the operation.

President Reuven Rivlin wished Netanyahu a “speedy recovery and good health.” Opposition Leader Yair Lapid also tweeted well-wishes, saying: “Feel well.”

Sara Netanyahu, 63, is a controversial figure in Israel, often portrayed as having iron-clad control over the prime minister. She has also been repeatedly accused of abusing staff at the Prime Minister’s Residence and convicted of misusing public funds as part of a plea deal in a case involving allegations she illegally procured and then misreported catering services at the Prime Minister’s Residence.

She is also a central figure in Case 1000, the corruption cases against her husband which involves suspicions Netanyahu illicitly accepted some $200,000 in gifts such as cigars and champagne from two billionaires — Hollywood-based Israeli movie mogul Arnon Milchan and Australian magnate James Packer.

The Netanyahus have repeatedly denied all the allegations against them, railing against the courts, prosecution and media for what they term a “witch hunt.” They allege the state prosecution, police, media and opposition are framing him in an attempted political coup.