Israel PM’s wife accused of influencing political picks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's wife, Sara, interviewed candidates for the post of military advisor to her husband, former Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon charged on Friday.

Yaalon made the accusation in an interview with Israel’s Hebrew-language Channel 2, which is set to be broadcast in full Friday evening.

“The Defense Ministry sent candidates for the post to the prime minister's office to be interviewed by Netanyahu… but were shocked to find that the interviews were being conducted by Sara,” Yaalon says in the interview (excerpts of which have already been broadcast).

According to Yaalon, Israeli Army Chief-of-Staff Gadi Eizenkot had expressed anger after learning that the PM’s wife was interviewing candidates for the post.

Within the last two years, Netanyahu and his wife have been questioned by judicial authorities on several occasions amid multiple allegations of corruption.

In June, Sara was indicted for fraud for allegedly using public funds to pay for expensive restaurant meals.

In February, Israeli police recommended that Netanyahu be indicted for graft, saying there was sufficient evidence to formally charge him in two separate corruption cases.

The first case involves Israeli Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan, who was allegedly asked to purchase luxury items for both Netanyahu and his wife.

The second relates to an alleged deal for favorable media coverage with Arnon Mozes, publisher of prominent Hebrew-language daily Yedioth Ahronoth.