Any day when an indictment is filed against the prime minister's wife is not an easy day. On a day like this, the Bibiphobes in the media and the political arena no doubt have mixed feelings. They may celebrate the fact that a puritanical and self-righteous campaign has led to an indictment, but they are bitter and embarrassed an indictment was not also filed against Benjamin Netanyahu.
For years, they have waged a campaign to bring down the right-wing government headed by Netanyahu through police investigations as an alternative to democratic elections.
The media's obsession with the purchase of memorial candles and outdoor furniture, the redemption of recyclable bottles for cash, the employment of electrician Avi Fahima and the hiring of waiters and chefs and a caregiver for Sara's late father started three years ago. Day after day, and especially come election time, all the newscasts piled on the reporting of these "cases." The media ruled itself judge, jury and executioner in the case, all to create the impression that the Prime Minister's Residence was an organized crime syndicate. This was all done as part of their futile attempt to convince the Israeli public that everything here is rotten and corrupt and Israeli democracy is on the verge of collapse. This has always been the strategy of the Bolsheviks, who hold that "the worse, the better." Frustrated and well-known commentators rolled their eyes heavenward and explained just how bad things were in the hope of creating negative public opinion of Netanyahu and his family.
Now we learn that of all the affairs that have been discussed, the one remaining issue is the ordering of meals to the Prime Minister's Residence. As the indictment indicates, these meals were not ordered for Netanyahu and his family but for guests of the Prime Minister's Residence.
As I am unfamiliar with the evidence in the case, I cannot relate to its legal aspects. It is nevertheless clear to me that when respected guests arrive at the Prime Minister's Residence, it would only be reasonable to host them at a higher standard than the cook employed by the state. If Israel's citizens knew the amount of chefs, sous-chefs, confectioners and bakers employed at the White House, the Elysee Palace and 10 Downing Street, they would realize the Prime Minister's Residence is one of the more modest official residences in the world.
As a veteran lawyer, it is difficult for me to think of any other advanced and enlightened country where a criminal investigation would see the courts examine food receipts and deliveries to the prime minister or any other publicly elected official. For the sake of historical justice, I will note that no one ever spoke of investigations or indictments when the state covered the very significant expenses incurred by the office of late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's wife Leah Rabin.
It is my hope that the decision by Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit and the State Attorney's Office was not influenced by the protests organized by figures like left-wing political strategist Eldad Yaniv and former caretaker at the Prime Minister's Residence Menny Naftali. It would be frightening to think the street was in control of law enforcement. It is precisely on the part of the defenders of the rule of law that the delusional theories behind the motive for filing an indictment are being raised. They respect the gatekeepers only when they act according to their expectations.
Now that it has been decided to file an indictment, it is only fitting that media outlets, politicians, senior police officials and protesters out in the streets will allow due process to ensure no one's legal rights are trampled. It is my hope this is not an excessive request from those who extol the rule of law and the defense of democracy. Like any other citizen, Sara Netanyahu is entitled to the presumption of innocence. Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty does not only apply to those the Left holds dear.
