JERUSALEM – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife Sara Netanyahugoes on trial on Sunday for allegedly using state funds to fraudulently payfor hundreds of meals, part of a list of legal troubles facing the family.
The start of the trial will be the latest chapter in a saga intenselyscrutinised in Israel — but dismissed by the Netanyahus as another “absurd”attempt to discredit them.
The veteran premier himself faces possible charges in separate corruptioninvestigations, leading to speculation that he will eventually be forced tostep down.
Sara Netanyahu was charged with fraud and breach of trust in June.
Prosecutors accuse her of misusing state funds to pay for catered mealscosting $100,000 (85,000 euros) by falsely declaring there were no cooksavailable at the premier’s official residence.
From 2010 to 2013, she, her family and guests received “fraudulently fromthe state hundreds of prepared meals”, the indictment read.
According to the charge sheet, the meals were ordered from a variety ofwell-known Jerusalem businesses, including an Italian restaurant, a MiddleEastern grill joint and a sushi establishment.
The trial, which could run for months, is to open in the Jerusalemmagistrates court at 1:30 PM (1030 GMT), overseen by a panel of threejudges due to the “public sensitivity” of the case.
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It was originally scheduled to start in July but was postponed for reasonsthat were not made public.
Sara Netanyahu, aged 59 and a high-profile presence at her husband’s sidethroughout his long tenure, has denied any wrongdoing.
But the case has again turned the spotlight on the Netanyahu family andpast allegations of misbehaviour.
Sara Netanyahu has previously been accused of pocketing cash from depositrefunds for empty bottles returned from the official residence.
She has also faced accusations of mistreating staff, and in 2016 a courtawarded some $47,000 in damages to a former housekeeper who accused thecouple of repeated workplace abuse.
