Sara Netanyahu receives support from former residence employee: "I am on the side of the truth"
Hairdresser Lior Atiya, who worked closely with the Prime Minister's wife, addressed the allegations published against her and came to her defense: "I received treatment opposite to what is described in the media. 'Do you want something to drink?' Everything was within the framework of pleasant and fun conversation."
Sara Netanyahu, wife of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is at the center of a legal storm following a lawsuit filed by a former residence employee at the Regional Labor Court in Jerusalem against the Prime Minister's Office. As part of the lawsuit, the employee demands compensation in the amount of 300,000 shekels, alleging bullying by Sara Netanyahu during his employment. The Prime Minister's Office rejects these claims entirely.
Against the background of testimony published by Channel 12 News journalist Omri Maniv, a former employee at the Prime Minister's residence was interviewed this morning and came to the defense of Sara Netanyahu. Hairdresser Lior Atiya told Galei Israel Radio:
"I worked with Sara Netanyahu as a hairdresser for nearly two years and it felt very strange to me that before the elections this campaign against the Prime Minister's wife is coming out again. I received treatment opposite to what is described in the media: 'Do you want something to drink?' Everything was within the framework of pleasant and fun conversation. I can also note that I do not vote for Netanyahu so that it does not sound like I am taking a political side. I am on the side of the truth."
In response to the Channel 12 report, the Prime Minister's Office stated:
"The Prime Minister's Office rejects entirely the baseless claims raised in the report. This is a domestic worker who worked for a short time at the residence and was fired after failing in his role, and vented his bitterness in a statement of claim full of lies. This is another attempt in a multi-year industry of extorting money from the state through empty smears. Only recently, Mrs. Netanyahu won once again in court against an employee who threw lies at her and was forced by the judge to pay compensation."
The office emphasized that the employee was fired in an orderly procedure for professional reasons, including poor performance and difficulties in cooperating with other staff. He raised his current claims only after his request to return to work was refused.
