Sara Netanyahu denies ordering gourmet food at state's expense
In recordings broadcast on Channel Ten from the 'residence affair' investigation, the PM's wife is heard insisting she didn't order gourmet food and is accustomed to eat simple modest food; despite stating her family doesn't eat 'royalty food,' Mrs. Netanyahu says she doesn't deserve eating ptitim.
Sara Netanyahu, the prime minister's wife, insisted to police investigators her family does not eat gourmet food from high-end restaurants and that she is accustomed to eating modest food in small portions, according to recordings from her questioning broadcast on Channel Ten Friday.
Mrs. Netanyahu was indicted a week ago for fraudulently obtaining benefits under aggravated circumstances, fraud, and breach of trust. She has been accused of ordering private meals worth some NIS 350,000 with the state footing the bill, which the official Prime Minister's Residence employed cooks.
"I was labeled as a duchess, but it's a lie. I eat schnitzels at home, I eat homemade modest food. Gourmet food is not served at the prime minister's residence. The prime minister and his wife don't demand royalty food. Does it make sense to prepare ptitim (a type of toasted pasta shaped like rice grains developed during the Austerity in Israel -- ed.) when I ask for fish? Why do I deserve eating ptitim?" Mrs. Netanyahu told police.
She was also asked about her alleged demands to have employees be present at all times at the residence, even during Shabbat (Saturday, the Jewish day of rest).
"You would notify chief caretaker Efi Azulay at what time you wanted the employees to arrive. We are talking about dozens of versions given by waiters and employees that you wanted, asked for, and chose," a police investigator asked Mrs. Netanyahu.
She replied that "It's natural to have employees working on Saturday as all prime ministers had in the past, both in the official residence in Balfour Street as well at their private residences - whether it's in Kokhav Ya'ir (Ehud Barak), in the Shikmim ranch (Ariel Sharon) or in Tel Aviv. I wasn't the one who talked and asked (for the employees). The most I did was just saying what time (the employees should arrive)."
Investigators pointed out that while during former prime minister Ehud Olmert's tenure, waiters were employed two or three times a week, during Prime Minister Netanyahu's tenure, two waiters were at times employed per day, even when there were no guests at the official residence.
"I didn’t know changes had been made in our conditions. If that's the case I see it as an inequity. You are discriminating against us," Mrs. Netanyahu responded. "Those who wanted to make a change—not to have waiters in the residence during Netanyahu's tenure—acted out of malice and wanted to deliberately harm Prime Minister Netanyahu."
She also rejected claims Olmert's use of waiters was justified as he held many work meetings at the official residence. "Olmert had many friends at the residence on Fridays at the expense of the state. Prime Minister Netanyahu had almost no (personal) friends on Fridays. The prime minister, his wife, and sons are the only ones to attend dinners at the residence. Prime Minister Netanyahu is the one that works until the small hours of the night holding work meetings to promote the state's best interest," Mrs. Netanyahu insisted.
"Prime Minister Netanyahu doesn't invite friends to (look at) paintings, for which the prime minister's wife receives huge amounts of money since her husband is also the Ministry of Economy. It appears the police prefer to ignore those facts. I have seen documents showing Mrs. Olmert paid for transportation and guest rooms using state funds," she went on to say.
Mrs. Netanayhu went on to claim she considers herself "a person who acts according to the law and does what is allowed in line with the protocols. I was told we are entitled to all the things our predecessors have been entitled to before us. It's good you didn't say I'm a 'delicate European.' Those words have never come out of my mouth. Since Meni Naftali, I've been trying to cut expenses. We practically live under an Austerity regime. I didn't appreciate Meni's squandering. I'm a very modest person who doesn't like to waste money. I asked to order less takeout to avoid throwing away food."
