PM's ex-housekeeper says got threatening call

Lillian Peretz says unknown caller threatened her life, giving her 12 hours to pull lawsuit she filed against Netanyahu's wife. PM's Office: We strongly condemn any threat

Raanan Ben-Zur |Published: 01.19.10 , 20:52

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's former housekeeper in Caesarea, Lillian Peretz, says she has received a phone call from a man threatening her life and giving her 12 hours to pull the lawsuit she filed against Netanyahu's wife, Sara.

Peretz arrived at the police station in her hometown of Hadera on Tuesday evening in order to file a complaint.

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"I received a phone call from a man who did not identify himself. He told me, 'You, Lilian, are the one causing all the mess. If you don't end this affair within 12 hours, you personally suffer," Peretz told Channel 2 TV.

According to the former housekeeper, the call was cut off immediately after the threat was made. She added that she believed the threat was serious.

"I'm afraid," she said. "I'm scared for my children. This has been blown out of proportions. Such things, I did not imagine it would get to this, I really didn’t."

Peretz arrived at the police station with her lawyer, Assaf Sharaf. She refused to talk as she left the station, but gave a positive answer when she was asked whether she felt safe.

Her lawyer said he was convinced the prime minister and his wife were not responsible for the threats, but said there were people who were interested in eliminating the lawsuit.

The Prime Minister's Office said in response, "We denounce and condemn any threat and any other expression of illegal or non-normative behavior. The prime minister and his wife have asked and are asking to have the matter resolved only in the court."

Allegations

In a claim for NIS 300,000 (about $82,000) filed last week with the Tel Aviv Regional Labor Court, Peretz recounted her version of experiences during her six years working for the prime minister's wife.

"Sara Netanyahu abused me, paid me less than minimum wage, didn't pay my social benefits, forced me to work Saturdays even though I observe Shabbat, and forced me to call her 'Mrs. Sara Netanyahu'," were only some of the allegations made in the lawsuit.

In his first remarks on the lawsuit, Netanyahu said on Monday, "You don't put the wife, the kids or the family in the line of fire. At least you shouldn't put them in the line of fire."

Netanyahu was asked about the affair during a press conference in Germany with Chancellor Angela Merkel, and decided to break his silence, saying, "When a person enters life in the public eye, he expects to be the subject of attacks. But I think that he can also expect there to be limits to the attacks."

The prime minister called the affair: "An unrestrained and unjustified attack" on his wife. "I have no doubt that the truth behind this scheme will come to light soon."