Why Sara Netanyahu is the most hated woman in Israel

Published February 18th, 2016 - 07:39 GMT

Last week, the Jerusalem Labor Court awarded a former caretaker at the Israeli Prime Minister’s Residence about $43,735, ruling that he suffered verbal and emotional abuse while working for Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara. Mrs. Netayanhu has for decades been a lightning rod for harsh criticism, often portrayed as a difficult person whose lavish lifestyle is paid for by unwitting taxpayers.

Her sartorial sense is low-hanging fruit for sarcastic commentary, but let's instead scan her behavior and oversize sense of entitlement, and see how they paint her persona.

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Of course it shouldn't matter what politicians' wives wear. It's their behavior that counts. Israel's "first lady" has long faced scrutiny over her spending habits and oversize sense of entitlement. That's why lampooning grandiose Sara Netanyahu - paired here with her Miss Piggy doppelgänger - has a certain credibility. (Image: @Rasees Twitter)

Sara's attracted criticism since '91 when she married her man, which intensified when he became Prime Minister. Her early household management strategy included (allegedly) flinging shoes at an aide and firing a nanny for burning soup. The meddlesome missus was later accused of sticking her schnozz into state affairs.

Last year, the third Mrs. Netanyahu whined to JPost about her chronically negative press. “We were a young couple from the wrong side of the political map, not bad looking, educated, with cute little children. A journalist once told me, ‘If you had been from the left, you, just as you are, would have been our Queen.’”

In 1999, Israeli police recommended that the couple face criminal prosecution for theft of $100,000 in gifts collected on state visits, and suspicion of conspiracy on a kickback scheme with a government contractor. The attorney general opted not to pursue the case against these “could-have-been royals”. (Official White House Photo: S.Appleton)

In 2010, Netanyahu housekeeper Lillian Peretz sued Sara, seeking nearly $80,000 for unpaid wages, claiming that her boss was a screamer who demanded - on the eve of Passover - that Peretz return to Sara’s home to do the family laundry, for free. Fellow employees backed up Peretz’s claims, and others also sued. (Image: Eran Wolkowski)

The First Lady is oft skewered for her looks, but her Lady Gaga moment came at the 2013 Knesset swearing-in ceremony. Like many women in attendance, Sara wore a little black dress. The problem was hers was too little, and far too transparent with peekaboo lace at her arms, neck, and most notably, her belly. (photo credit: Flash90)

Israeli media reported in December that Sara and Bibi asked the state to cover food costs for their adopted dog, Kaiya. The pooch bit two Likud guests at the Netanyahu's last Hanukkah party. Could the pup be a supporter of the Arab cause? (Image: www.maariv.co.il)

In February 2013, Haaretz reported on a state-financed contract worth $2,500 per year with an ice cream parlor near the official residence to keep Sara's fridge full of the tasty dessert. The revelation must have caused the PM a bit of a brain freeze, as he quickly ordered the agreement to be canceled. (Image: Avishag Sha-ar-Yashuv)

Sara allegedly kept hundreds of dollars from deposits on empty wine bottles that she ordered returned to markets, even though that money technically belongs to the Israeli state. Critics suspect that she tapped into state funds to pay for her late father's medical care and to spruce up the PMs home on the coast of Caesarea. (Image: LaTuff)

That same year, the Netanyahus attended Margaret Thatcher's funeral, along with an entourage of 73 others. The PM Office ordered an El Al jet to be custom-fit with 22 business class seats and a "resting chamber" – a room with double bed for Bibi and Sara - that alone cost $127,000. Did you know Sara was a former stewardess? (Image: Flash90)

Meni Naftali was just awarded $43,735 for the years of mistreatment while working at the Jerusalem mansion. During the hearings, Sara described Israeli newspaper tycoon Arnon Mozes as arch-villain Lord Voldemort from the Harrry Potter series. Mozes' daily paper Yedioth and online platform Ynet extensively covered the story of her trial.

Mrs. N's alleged drinking took center stage in court when the former caretaker at the PM residence testified that she drinks “crazy amounts” of alcohol and would polish off three bottles of champagne a day. Her family dismissed the allegations. (Image: Avishag Shaar Yashuv/Flash90)

If you aren't an Israeli taxpayer, or on staff at the PM residence, Sara's antics are just a diversion from the far more egregious behavior of her husband. His ongoing violation of Article 47 of the Fourth Geneva Convention - the part which explicitly prohibits the settling of civilians in occupied territory - is what needs to be taken to court.

Of course it shouldn't matter what politicians' wives wear. It's their behavior that counts. Israel's "first lady" has long faced scrutiny over her spending habits and oversize sense of entitlement. That's why lampooning grandiose Sara Netanyahu - paired here with her Miss Piggy doppelgänger - has a certain credibility. (Image: @Rasees Twitter)

Sara's attracted criticism since '91 when she married her man, which intensified when he became Prime Minister. Her early household management strategy included (allegedly) flinging shoes at an aide and firing a nanny for burning soup. The meddlesome missus was later accused of sticking her schnozz into state affairs.

Last year, the third Mrs. Netanyahu whined to JPost about her chronically negative press. “We were a young couple from the wrong side of the political map, not bad looking, educated, with cute little children. A journalist once told me, ‘If you had been from the left, you, just as you are, would have been our Queen.’”

In 1999, Israeli police recommended that the couple face criminal prosecution for theft of $100,000 in gifts collected on state visits, and suspicion of conspiracy on a kickback scheme with a government contractor. The attorney general opted not to pursue the case against these “could-have-been royals”. (Official White House Photo: S.Appleton)

In 2010, Netanyahu housekeeper Lillian Peretz sued Sara, seeking nearly $80,000 for unpaid wages, claiming that her boss was a screamer who demanded - on the eve of Passover - that Peretz return to Sara’s home to do the family laundry, for free. Fellow employees backed up Peretz’s claims, and others also sued. (Image: Eran Wolkowski)

The First Lady is oft skewered for her looks, but her Lady Gaga moment came at the 2013 Knesset swearing-in ceremony. Like many women in attendance, Sara wore a little black dress. The problem was hers was too little, and far too transparent with peekaboo lace at her arms, neck, and most notably, her belly. (photo credit: Flash90)

Israeli media reported in December that Sara and Bibi asked the state to cover food costs for their adopted dog, Kaiya. The pooch bit two Likud guests at the Netanyahu's last Hanukkah party. Could the pup be a supporter of the Arab cause? (Image: www.maariv.co.il)

In February 2013, Haaretz reported on a state-financed contract worth $2,500 per year with an ice cream parlor near the official residence to keep Sara's fridge full of the tasty dessert. The revelation must have caused the PM a bit of a brain freeze, as he quickly ordered the agreement to be canceled. (Image: Avishag Sha-ar-Yashuv)

Sara allegedly kept hundreds of dollars from deposits on empty wine bottles that she ordered returned to markets, even though that money technically belongs to the Israeli state. Critics suspect that she tapped into state funds to pay for her late father's medical care and to spruce up the PMs home on the coast of Caesarea. (Image: LaTuff)

That same year, the Netanyahus attended Margaret Thatcher's funeral, along with an entourage of 73 others. The PM Office ordered an El Al jet to be custom-fit with 22 business class seats and a "resting chamber" – a room with double bed for Bibi and Sara - that alone cost $127,000. Did you know Sara was a former stewardess? (Image: Flash90)

Meni Naftali was just awarded $43,735 for the years of mistreatment while working at the Jerusalem mansion. During the hearings, Sara described Israeli newspaper tycoon Arnon Mozes as arch-villain Lord Voldemort from the Harrry Potter series. Mozes' daily paper Yedioth and online platform Ynet extensively covered the story of her trial.

Mrs. N's alleged drinking took center stage in court when the former caretaker at the PM residence testified that she drinks “crazy amounts” of alcohol and would polish off three bottles of champagne a day. Her family dismissed the allegations. (Image: Avishag Shaar Yashuv/Flash90)

If you aren't an Israeli taxpayer, or on staff at the PM residence, Sara's antics are just a diversion from the far more egregious behavior of her husband. His ongoing violation of Article 47 of the Fourth Geneva Convention - the part which explicitly prohibits the settling of civilians in occupied territory - is what needs to be taken to court.

Why Sara Netanyahu is the most hated woman in Israel

Israeli media reported in December that Sara and Bibi asked the state to cover food costs for their adopted dog, Kaiya. The pooch bit two Likud guests at the Netanyahu's last Hanukkah party. Could the pup be a supporter of the Arab cause? (Image: www.maariv.co.il)

Mrs. N's alleged drinking took center stage in court when the former caretaker at the PM residence testified that she drinks “crazy amounts” of alcohol and would polish off three bottles of champagne a day. Her family dismissed the allegations. (Image: Avishag Shaar Yashuv/Flash90)

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