Israeli police have initiated a criminal investigation into Sara Netanyahu, the wife of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to the state attorney’s office, which made the announcement public on Sunday.
The investigation, which opened on December 26, follows accusations made by an Israeli opposition lawmaker, Naama Lazimi, regarding Sara Netanyahu’s involvement in attempts to influence her husband’s ongoing corruption trial.
The criminal investigation was prompted by an investigation aired on Israeli Channel 12’s Uvda news programme in December.
The programme alleged that Sara Netanyahu had attempted to intimidate a key witness in her husband’s trial.
Additionally, the show accused her of orchestrating demonstrations aimed at harassing the Attorney General, his deputy, and others seen as hostile to her husband.
The state attorney’s office confirmed that the investigation is being carried out by Israel Police in collaboration with the cyber department of the state attorney’s office.
The investigation into Sara Netanyahu comes as her husband, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is facing serious corruption charges, including bribery, fraud, and breach of public trust in three separate cases. He has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, calling the charges “ridiculous.”
In December, Netanyahu testified in the trial, which has been delayed multiple times since it began in May 2020. The trial is expected to continue for several months, with an appeals process that could further extend the legal proceedings.
In the first case, the Netanyahus are accused of accepting over $260,000 worth of luxury items, including cigars, jewellery, and champagne, from wealthy businessmen in exchange for political favours.
Benjamin Netanyahu remains the first sitting prime minister in Israel to face criminal charges, a significant milestone in the country’s legal and political history.
