Sara Netanyahu Trial for Misuse of Funds Opens in Jerusalem

(Bloomberg) -- The trial of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife for misuse of public funds opened today in Jerusalem, Hadashot TV news reported.

Sara Netanyahu is charged with using almost $100,000 of state money to cover unauthorized spending on meals between September 2010 and March 2013. She has denied wrongdoing, and the prime minister has said the family is the victim of a political witch hunt by political opponents seeking to depose his government.

The trial comes as Benjamin Netanyahu is being investigated on corruption suspicions in several different cases. There’s no indication the allegations against the prime minister or his wife are having an impact on voters, with Netanyahu actually gaining support in recent polls.

Sara Netanyahu is accused of instructing staff at the prime minister’s residence to order meals from posh restaurants, a violation of rules that bar ordering outside food when there’s a cook on staff.

The indictment says Sara Netanyahu falsely claimed there were no cooks on staff when the meals were ordered. The residence’s former deputy director was also indicted in the case.

--With assistance from David Wainer.

To contact the reporter on this story: Alisa Odenheimer in Jerusalem at aodenheimer@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Shaji Mathew at shajimathew@bloomberg.net, Brian Wingfield, Michael S. Arnold

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