The Prime Minister from the great state of Israel finds himself in hot water today, after an official report into his spending accused him of:
...excessive and improper use of public funds, including spending huge amounts on takeaway food, hairdressing and cleaning..
This couldn't have come at a worse time for Netanyahu, with an election looming and his shenanigans in the US dividing opinion in Israel and the US.
Prepared by Israel’s state comptroller, Yosef Shapira – and passed to the country’s attorney general to consider whether any laws have been broken – the report is potentially highly damaging to Netanyahu coming only a month before Israel’s elections.
The government auditor’s report appears to confirm allegations that have been rumbling for several years alleging excessive spending by Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, and a lack of proper management of the costs in the prime minister’s official home.
It has come on top of lurid allegations, detailed in a civil court case, of the high-handed and abusive treatment of staff in the official residence by Sara Netanyahu – claims denied strongly by the Netanyahus.
What has made the issue potentially politically toxic in the midst of an election campaign – where Netanyahu is running neck and neck with his main rivals – is the sharp contrast it has afforded to Israelis suffering under a high cost of living.
So far, so text-book conservative:
Among spending items criticised in the report are a bill to the Israeli state for more than $18,000 for takeaway meals in a single year, despite the fact that Netanyahus are provided with a cook and staff at the government’s expense.
Another expenditure highlighted for criticism was the cost of cleaning for his private home in the upmarket beach resort of Caesarea which cost the Israeli state $2,120 a month – more than the monthly income of many Israelis – despite the fact that the Netanyahus spend the majority of their time at the official residence in Jerusalem.
Netanyahu was also criticised for excessive spending on a raft of other items including hairdressing costs, clothes, water consumption and electrical repairs made at the taxpayer’s expense at his private home.
Wow. That tragic combover is the result of a hairdresser? Astonishing.
Perhaps most damaging of all is the revelation that employees of the prime minister’s office were obliged to pay for some of Netanyahu’s personal expenses out of their own pockets – often small sums and not reimbursed.
No wonder the GOP loves this greedy, slippery grifter: he's one of their own. With any luck and a fair wind, this will help drive the obtuse, mendacious bully out of office.