Israeli Prime Minister's Wife İndicted On Fraud Charges

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's wife, Sara, has been indicted for fraud for allegedly using public funds to pay for expensive restaurant meals, Israeli media reported on Thursday.



According to Israeli daily The Jerusalem Post, Israeli Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit has formally charged Sara Netanyahu with fraud -- under aggravated circumstances -- and breach of public trust.



The newspaper described the indictment as an "explosive" development that has shaken the country.



According to the indictment, Sara instructed staff at the Prime Minister's Jerusalem residence to order private meals worth some 350,000 Israeli shekels (roughly $96,600) in the period from 2010 to 2013.



The orders violated rules barring the PM's residence, which has its own cook on staff, from ordering meals from restaurants.



"Sara Netanyahu acted in coordination with then Prime Minister's Office Deputy Director-General Ezra Seidoff, who falsely claimed that the PM's residence did not employ a cook, even though it did at the time," The Jerusalem Post reported.



Over the last two years, the prime minister and his family have been questioned several times over corruption and fraud allegations.



In February, Israeli police recommended that Netanyahu be indicted for alleged corruption, saying there was sufficient evidence to formally charge him in two separate graft cases.



The first case involves Israeli Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan, who was allegedly asked to purchase luxury items for both the prime minister and his wife.



The second relates to an alleged deal for favorable media coverage with Arnon Mozes, the publisher of prominent Hebrew-language daily Yedioth Ahronoth.



Mandelblit reportedly has yet to decide whether or not to press charges against Netanyahu in both cases. -