Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is embroiled in the media frenzy after Tara Malla, a Nepali woman working at his residence, registered complaints against his wife.

This time Netanyahu is facing severe criticism from legal officials in Israel for using the government spokesperson while publicising his comments and clarifications to counter Malla’s charges.

Malla, a native of Syangja district, had earlier accused the Israeli prime minister’s wife, Sara Netanyahu, of mistreating, underpaying and harassing her.

“The PM’s wife’s behaviour is to blame for my broken finger,” said Malla, in a press conference on Thursday night (local time), accompanied by her lawyer, Dena Yohana Lerman.

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) had published a series of comments from the premier on Tuesday and Wednesday, following charges by Malla. This was in clear violation of the law which prohibits the PM from using government officials for his personal and political interests, reported Israeli media, while quoting senior legal officials.

After the PM channelled his justifications from the PMO, Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein had advised the PM not to use any government spokesperson for his private matters.

Paying heed to the Attorney General’s advice and also shaken by the public outcry, Netanyahu has now appointed Ofer Lefler, a veteran publicist, his spokesperson for his family.

The charges against Sara Netanyahu have caught the media and public eye in Israeli, especially because of Sara’s troubled and unruly past, which has accounted for a number of such cases of domestic violence in the past and a posh lifestyle funded by her husband’s “goodwill donors”.

While talking to the Post, Malla had expressed her will to return to Nepal as soon as possible. “I have scary memories from my stint as a worker with Netanyahu, especially for the past some time,” said Malla.

Published on: 4 September  2011 | The Kathmandu Post