Just 29% of Israelis said that Netanyahu is their preferred prime minister
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Anger at Netanyahu Rises as He Retreats to Billionaire-Owned Private Mansion
By Madeline Fitzgerald,
3 hours ago
Anger at Netanyahu Rises as He Retreats to Billionaire-Owned Private Mansion
Just 29% of Israelis said that Netanyahu is their preferred prime minister
Published | Updated Madeline Fitzgerald
Resentment towards
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is growing, as the leader and his wife retreat to a luxury mansion owned by a billionaire friend, while the war between Israel and Hamas
continues to rage in the Middle East .
The mansion, which belongs to American billionaire Simon Falic, reportedly contains a nuclear bunker. Falic is friends with Benjamin and Sara Netanyahu – who have been embroiled in financial controversies, according to
The Telegraph .
The decision to move into the mansion, while the couple also owns two homes in Jerusalem and a third on the coast, sparked criticism in the Israeli media.
“We renovate, secure and finance three homes for the Netanyahu family,” said journalist Uri Misgav, according to the Telegraph.
When the Netanyahus moved into Falic’s villa, they reportedly brought their private chef, who is paid for by the Israeli government. If proven true, it would be a violation of Israeli law that prohibits government employees from working in private homes, according to the
Jerusalem Post .
This controversy comes as both the prime minister and his wife are facing blowback for the government's response to the war. Netayahu’s popularity within his country has sunk in recent weeks – with just 29% of Israelis saying he was their preferred prime minister in an October 13
poll .
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara Netanyahu greet supporters at an election-night event on November 1, 2022 in Jerusalem, Israel. Amir Levy/Getty Images
Many have blamed Sara Netanyahu for the five days that elapsed between the initial Hamas attacks and the
establishment of a war cabinet .
“Her influence on political decisions surpasses that of any previous prime minister’s spouse in Israeli history and even on a global scale,” a security source told the Telegraph.
Israeli journalist Ben Caspit told the paper "Sara is most definitely not welcome at any of the shivas or funerals."
This is not the first time that the Netanyahus have faced scrutiny for their financial dealings. Jailed French businessman Arnaud Mimran allegedly transferred thousands of euros to the prime minister and gifted him vacations and expensive watches, according to the Israeli newspaper
Haaretz .
Netanyahu disputed these claims but did admit that as a private citizen he took a $40,000 gift from Mimran.
The security source told the Telegraph that Sara has been accused of taking gifts and bribes in the past, but often acts like these allegations are “a witch hunt.”
