UPDATED: Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu rebuked over ‘excessive spending’ on lavish homes

[DonViejo]

Last edited Tue Feb 17, 2015, 08:22 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Isaeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, campaigning for reelection next month, was officially rebuked Tuesday over what the country’s comptroller said was excessive spending on running his private and public residences.

In a report, Comptroller Joseph Shapira stopped short of recommending a criminal investigation, which is not within his remit, but said he had turned evidence over to State Attorney Yehuda Weinstein for possible action on some cases. The media has been circulating claims about a lavish lifestyle ahead of the March 17 election that opinion polls suggest will return Netanyahu to office.

Shapira’s report details how spending on cleaning, food and repairs at the official residence in Jerusalem and the premier’s private home in Caesarea rose dramatically when the premier took office in 2009, but then decreased in 2013.

It also mentions alleged mishandling of funds from recycled bottles by Netanyahu’s wife Sarah, as well as the purchase of garden furniture for the weekend residence in Caesarea.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/02/israels-benjamin-netanyahu-rebuked-over-excessive-spending-on-lavish-homes/

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UPDATE:

Benjamin Netanyahu, Wife Spent $68,000 in Two Years on Makeup and Hairstyling

By Ben Mathis-Lilley

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara spent $68,000 in two years on makeup, hairstyling, and "presentation," a report by the country's comptroller says.

Now, that might sound like a lot, but if you break down the numbers, it ends up averaging out to $325 per Netanyahu per week, which is ... [squints at spreadsheet] still a lot to spend on hair and makeup.

Comptroller Joseph Shapira also found that the Netanyahus spent $41,000 in one year on takeout meals, or $111 a day, despite employing an in-house chef and spending an additional $213 daily on groceries and other food and entertainment expenses for the "prime minister, his family and his guests."

In addition to documenting extravagance, the report suggests that the Netanyahus could be subject to potential criminal charges for hiring a political ally named Avi Fahima to perform electrical work on their seaside home in Caesarea. (A criminal investigation of the couple is also underway in the matter of Sara Netanyahu's alleged embezzlement of the deposit money you get for returning bottles to the supermarket.) Get a load of this advanced boondoggling:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2015/02/17/benjamin_netanyahu_expensive_haircuts_israeli_pm_and_wife_sara_extravagant.html?

[lark]

1. No surprise

He's an Israeli Repug

[Bigmack]

2. So OF COURSE he's the sorta dude

a Republican controlled congress would invite to speak to them. Birds of a feather..... Ms Bigmack

[Fred Sanders]

3. Maybe some of the Jews in Europe that Bibi, and some media, are trying to scare to come to Israel could stay with him?

[C_U_L8R]

4. Why stop short?

Considering it's The Beeb,
its probably worth a criminal investigation.
There's bound to be a lot more
hanky panky financing going on.

[Fred Sanders]

5. The best thing to ever happen to American and Israeli relations would be for Bibi to lose the election.

If it is kosher for Israel to openly meddle in American politics and foreign policy, what is Obama waiting for?

[DonViejo]

7. He doesn't have to do anything right now....

Democrats are doing it, as are newspapers, Jewish leaders, former Israeli Ambassadors to the U.S. (5 of them) and a wide range of folks. I suspect The PM (if he's reelected), and the President will have "words" at an appropriate time.

[pennylane100]

6. The most fascinating fact, to me especially,

was the mishandling of recycling of containers. In California I believe it is 5 cents per bottle if they are taken to a recycling center. How much recycling did they have. My probably faulty math tells me that if they recycled one thousand pieces a month, that would net them around $600 per year. It seems a little bizarre or am I missing something?

However, if it gets rid of him it is OK.