Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stands with his wife, Sara, after voting in the municipal elections in Jerusalem on Oct. 22, 2013.
By William Booth
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
JERUSALEM — After nine years with Benjamin Netanyahu as their prime minister, Israelis know a lot about him and his first lady, Sara. Now they also know how much the couple spends on hair and makeup, maid service and swimming pool water.
On Tuesday, at precisely 4 p.m., the Israeli state comptroller released an eagerly awaited report condemning the Netanyahus for “excessive spending” at both the prime minister’s official residence at 2 Balfour St. in Jerusalem and the couple’s private beachfront villa in Caesarea.
Want to know how much the Netanyahus billed the Israeli taxpayer for takeout food in 2011? It was 92,781 shekels, or about $24,000, “even though there was a chef in the residence,” the comptroller noted disapprovingly.
The comptroller’s office warned of more investigations in the offing — into the issue of improper bottle recycling by the Netanyahus, for one. Apparently, the couple pocketed $1,000 in cash refunds paid by stores when staff returned drink bottles for deposit. The bottles were purchased by the state, the report noted, and so the refunds should have been returned to the treasury.
There may also be more to come about patio furniture. According to the report, some teak tables and chairs were suspiciously moved from the patio at the official residence to the patio at the private residence — and then moved back again.
The scandal — and that is what Israeli commentators are calling it — comes one month before a national election on March 17. Pollsters predict a tight race between Netanyahu and his main challenger, Labor Party leader Isaac Herzog, whose spending on pizza and grooming are not yet known.
The Netanyahu family’s use of state funds between 2009 and 2013 could potentially raise criminal issues, and it certainly violates ethical standards, State Comptroller Joseph Shapira said Tuesday. Matters are now before the attorney general.
One might think Israelis would be more interested in candidate positions regarding threats posed by enemies Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas. One would be wrong.