Israeli prime minister’s wife suspected of bribery

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife, Sara Netanyahu, is suspected of bribery and corruption, Israeli media reported.

A senior police official told the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court on Thursday that the premier's wife is a suspect in a bribery probe involving the Bezeq telecommunication company, also known as Case 4000.

The case involves accusations that Bezeq owner Shaul Elovitch had instructed the Walla news website, which he owns, to provide Netanyahu with positive media coverage.

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

According to the indictment, Sara instructed staff at the Prime Minister's Jerusalem residence to order private meals worth some 350,000 Israeli shekels (roughly $96,600) in the period from 2010 to 2013.

Netanyahu and his family have been the subject of criminal investigations over corruption and fraud allegations.

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

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

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