Servants and masters
Former Netanyahu maid weak side in affair and deserves media’s protection
According to the indictment
published by Yedioth Ahronoth Friday, Lillian Peretz was employed on despicable terms by one of the most powerful and influential families in Israel, that is, the family of former Finance Minister and current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Hence, don’t be confused here: This affair involves a weak side and a strong side. There is the side who lives in a villa in Caesarea, and there is the side who cleaned that villa. There is a side who ate and left dirty dishes, and another side who cooked the meals and cleaned the dirt. There is a side who screamed, and a side that took the screams and bit its lips because NIS 2,500 per month is plenty of money for it. There is a side who robbed, and a side who got robbed.
The Truth
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Yes, this affair also features a victim – and it is not Ms. Netanyahu. Her status is high and her political clout is immense. Her ability to dictate moves and to approve or reject senior appointments is unprecedented and worrisome. I am aware of an economic figure who seeks a desirable business world job and boasts that this job is in their pocket because they have the approval of the prime minister’s wife.
I did not see this “permit,” but it is enough to see this economic figure proudly boasting of a real or bogus promise by Sarah Netanyahu in order to understand the atmosphere around here at this time.
And who does the Netanyahu family face in this dispute? A superpower: Ms. Lillian Peretz, a maid from the periphery who earned about NIS 2,500 per month as noted above (roughly $700,) without receiving vacation pay or overtime pay (according to the salary slips presented by her.) Aren’t Mr. and Ms. Netanyahu ashamed?
Outrageous contract
I hold deep personal sympathy to maids. My late mother worked as a maid in various Israeli homes during her time in Israel. She worked hard, but was never made to sign bizarre and outrages contracts like the one required of Ms. Lillian Peretz as a condition for her employment at the Netanyahu household. Have you seen anything like it before? The maid pledged to pay her master compensation to the tune of 80 monthly salaries (!) should she dare violate the contract. Have we gone back to the era of serfs? Who is the Netanyahu family’s legal advisor, who through intolerable moral weakness volunteered to draft such despicable, one-sided, and exploitive agreement?
So please, don’t be confused here: Only one side in this affair deserves the media’s protection, and this is the maid’s side. As far as I know, the Netanyahu family will do just fine with its dozens of spokespeople and public relations experts. In the days that passed since the story was published, I have not seen leading figures in the country expressing their support for Ms. Peretz. Yet I certainly saw them come to the defense of Sarah and her husband.
Years ago, Yedioth Ahronoth published an investigative report about Ms. Sarah Netanyahu’s behavior towards another maid at her house. That report is considered a milestone in the history of the Israeli media for its critical, daring, and unbiased tone. The same will be true for the publication of Lillian Peretz’ lawsuit against Sarah Netanyahu this past Friday.
This is one of the press’ main roles at this time: Serving as a mouthpiece and defender of the weak, exploited, and silent, even at the price of a minor infringement on the extra rights of the powerful. Nothing will happen to the powerful people. They will certainly be able to protect themselves, along with the interested parties who surround them. A Pandora ’s Box has been opened, and it’s a good thing. Put an end to the cover-up.
