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President Donald Trump publicly broke with longtime ally Jeanine Pirro today after her office moved to dismiss criminal charges against a former Olympic canoeist accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, insisting the damage was unquestionably caused by vandals.

In a Truth Social post, Trump sharply criticized Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, for abandoning the prosecution.

“I disagree 100% with Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, on the Reflecting Pool. I don’t know what she was thinking?” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post, adding “it was a pure case of VANDALISM.”

The president acknowledged there may have been construction issues but maintained they were not responsible for the extensive damage.

“There may have been some contractor difficulty, but the major damage was caused by VANDALS!” the president added.

Pirro’s office announced Friday that prosecutors had uncovered new evidence that significantly weakened the case against David “Davey” Hearn.

Hearn had been indicted on July 2 on allegations that he was seen “forcefully and violently pulling up and removing the bottom liner” of the Reflecting Pool with both hands on June 19, shortly after renovations ordered by President Trump had been completed.

Hearn pleaded not guilty and has consistently denied damaging the pool, insisting that “the condition of the Reflecting Pool was the same after I stepped away from the water as it was before I got there.”

According to prosecutors, new information provided by the Interior Department after Hearn’s indictment indicated that the deterioration was not caused by vandalism but instead stemmed from faulty work performed during the renovation.

The government said the damage “was the result of flawed installation by the contractor, Atlantic Industrial Coatings.”

Hearn was among several individuals arrested in June after portions of the Reflecting Pool’s blue coating peeled away, leaving floating debris in water that had also turned green with algae.

Trump, whose more than $14 million renovation project included resurfacing the Reflecting Pool with what he described as “American flag blue,” has repeatedly rejected the explanation that construction defects were to blame.

In another Truth Social post on Shabbos, the president argued that surveillance footage supports his claim that the damage was deliberate.

“Look for yourselves at the VANDALISM that took place at The Reflecting Pool. The material is being cut with a knife or a box cutter, for all to see!” Trump wrote.

The Justice Department said Friday that it only learned after reviewing additional Interior Department documents that the damage appeared to have resulted from a construction error rather than criminal activity.

Federal officials acknowledged they would not have sought a grand jury indictment against Hearn had those documents been made available before charges were filed.

Despite the Justice Department’s decision, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum continued defending Trump’s position on Shabbos.

“The evidence is clear, vandals have repeatedly caused damage to the Reflecting Pool. Some of these acts were even caught on camera,” Burgum wrote in a post on X.

Burgum also said his department had supplied prosecutors with all requested materials.

Burgum wrote that his office “also provided the U.S. Attorney’s office expert and eyewitness testimony to the damage done by vandals and provided every piece of evidence they asked for in the requested time line detailing each area of damage at the pool.”

Following the dismissal, Hearn’s attorney argued that the prosecution should never have been brought and demanded an apology from the federal government.

“The Government’s case against Davey Hearn should never have been brought,” Steven Levin, Hearn’s attorney, said in a statement. “Its dismissal today does not erase the abuse of government power in arresting and charging a patriotic American. The government’s approach was ready, shoot, aim. The federal government owes Mr. Hearn an apology.”

Pirro’s office also disclosed Friday that prosecutors had moved to dismiss at least one of the three other misdemeanor cases involving individuals accused of damaging the Reflecting Pool.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump’s media company has introduced a high-priced subscription service that gives customers advance access to his Truth Social posts before they are released publicly, a move that has already prompted calls from Democratic lawmakers for a federal investigation.

Trump Media & Technology Group announced the launch of Truth API, a premium platform that costs $100,000 per month and is geared toward businesses, institutional investors, and financial traders seeking immediate access to posts from Trump and other prominent Truth Social accounts before they appear to the general public.

According to the company, the service is intended for professional users who monitor financial markets and rely on rapid access to information. Trump Media noted that President Trump’s social media posts have, on multiple occasions, influenced trading activity and caused noticeable swings in sectors such as energy and oil.

The new offering has drawn swift criticism from congressional Democrats.

Senators Adam Schiff and Elizabeth Warren are urging the Securities and Exchange Commission to examine whether providing early access to the president’s posts could improperly benefit paying subscribers and create an unfair advantage in financial markets.

In a letter sent to SEC Chairman Paul Atkins, the senators argued that the subscription model favors wealthy investors at the expense of the general public.

“It appears to be a scandalous misuse of the president’s office for his personal benefit, which harms everyday investors and the integrity of our markets, while enriching Wall Street and other wealthy stakeholders,” the senators wrote.

The controversy follows several instances in recent months in which President Trump’s public statements—particularly those involving Iran and U.S. energy policy—were followed by significant movements in oil prices and broader financial markets, underscoring the market-moving influence of his public remarks.

{Matzav.com}

Federal authorities are investigating a coordinated cyber campaign aimed at water utilities in at least seven states, with Iran emerging as the leading suspect behind the attacks, according to a report by The New York Times.

While officials say there has been no interruption to public drinking water supplies, the incidents have prompted heightened concern within the U.S. government over attempts to penetrate systems that regulate water quality and chemical treatment.

The investigation began after officials in Minnesota detected a cyber intrusion affecting local water infrastructure. Similar incidents were later reported in other states, including Michigan, expanding the scope of the federal probe. According to The New York Times, the FBI and the Environmental Protection Agency have confirmed that suspicious activity has been identified in at least seven states, although no contamination or disruption of drinking water has been reported.

According to U.S. officials, investigators currently view Iran as the primary suspect. However, they cautioned that the investigation remains in its early stages and that no definitive evidence has yet been uncovered to formally attribute the attacks to Tehran.

The reported cyber campaign has drawn comparisons to Iran’s attempted cyberattack against Israel’s water infrastructure in 2020. In that incident, hackers allegedly sought to manipulate chlorine levels in drinking water by infiltrating the computerized control systems of water pumps. Israeli authorities successfully thwarted the attack before any major damage occurred.

Investigators believe the attackers in the latest incidents attempted to gain control over systems responsible for monitoring water quality and regulating chemical dosing. Officials also suspect they may have tried to activate emergency procedures at multiple facilities. In response, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has urged water utilities nationwide to disconnect sensitive operational control systems from the internet whenever possible to reduce the risk of future attacks.

President Donald Trump, however, questioned whether Iran was actually responsible and downplayed the cyber incidents. Despite his comments, federal officials involved in the investigation continue to regard Iran as the leading suspect, while acknowledging that determining responsibility could take months.

Cybersecurity experts warned that the attacks represent a troubling shift in strategy. Unlike many previous cyber operations that focused primarily on espionage or disrupting computer networks, this campaign appears to have directly targeted critical infrastructure that millions of Americans rely on every day.

Montreal police have launched an investigation after a suspicious overnight fire heavily damaged a kosher restaurant in the city’s Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough, with members of the Jewish community expressing concern that the incident may have been motivated by antisemitism.

The two-alarm fire erupted at approximately 3:15 a.m. Friday at Nöam restaurant on Décarie Boulevard near Vézina Street, according to Service de police de la Ville de Montréal spokesperson Raphael Bergeron.

Although no injuries were reported, the restaurant sustained extensive damage. Bergeron said investigators have preliminary information indicating that an individual was present at the property when the fire began.

Police have obtained surveillance footage from the scene, which investigators are now reviewing as part of the ongoing probe.

Video obtained by CBC News appears to show a man wearing a white T-shirt and dark pants igniting the fire before fleeing the area.

While police have not determined a motive, many in the local Jewish community believe the attack may have specifically targeted the kosher establishment.

“Given the fact that it was a kosher restaurant, I find it hard to believe it wasn’t antisemitism,” said Howard Szalavetz, who owns the building.

Szalavetz said he was awakened by a phone call around 4 a.m. informing him that the property was engulfed in flames.

“I ran here, I was crying because there’s a lot of history in this building,” he said.

The building owner explained that he and his father purchased the property four decades ago, and that he once operated his own real estate business from the location.

Today, the building houses several businesses, including the kosher restaurant, a garage, and a car wash. According to Szalavetz, only the restaurant suffered damage in the fire.

“If my thoughts on the reasons for this are correct, then it’s a very sad state in society if this is what happens to good people, good hardworking people. They run a good business, they are good tenants,” he said.

The incident quickly drew condemnation from elected officials.

In a statement posted TODAY on social media, Liberal Member of Parliament Anthony Housefather called for investigators to treat the case as a possible hate crime.

“Absolutely disgusted to see what appears to be an arson attack on Nöam, a local kosher restaurant overnight. This attack on a Jewish [owned] business must be investigated as a hate crime [and] those involved in this criminal act must be caught [and] prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” he wrote.

Housefather later visited the damaged restaurant, joined by Elisabeth Prass, the Member of the National Assembly representing D’Arcy-McGee.

Prass said she has dined at the restaurant before and was deeply disturbed by what had occurred.

“I couldn’t believe something like that would happen in our backyard so it was important for me to come here and speak to the owners and see it for myself,” she said.

“I think somebody who is a coward and who has a lot of anger in their heart came last night and set a business on fire what their motivations are we can’t be sure for now, but we can’t deny the fact that it was a kosher restaurant.”

Like Housefather, Prass said she hopes the suspect is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and that, if investigators determine the attack was motivated by hatred, it should be treated accordingly.

CDN-NDG Borough Mayor Stéphanie Valenzuela also responded to the incident, emphasizing that violence and intimidation have no place in the community.

“CDN-NDG is home to a strong, diverse and resilient community. Acts of violence and intimidation have no place in our neighbourhoods,” she wrote.

Valenzuela added that borough officials are in contact with law enforcement and will continue closely monitoring the investigation.

The United States is reportedly sending 10 additional aerial refueling aircraft to Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, a move that would increase the number of American tanker planes stationed there to 40 as military tensions with Iran continue to intensify.

According to Israel’s Calcalist newspaper, the incoming aircraft will join approximately 30 U.S. refueling planes already positioned at Ben Gurion Airport.

The report, citing the Israel Airports Authority, said the unprecedented military presence has placed heavy strain on airport operations. Officials said the large number of tanker aircraft has contributed to civil flight delays of roughly two hours in recent days, with disruptions expected to increase once the additional planes arrive.

The timing is especially challenging, the report noted, because July and August are traditionally the busiest travel months at Israel’s main international airport.

The buildup comes despite an earlier effort to reduce the military footprint at Ben Gurion. On July 15, Israel’s Transportation Ministry announced that it had reached an agreement with U.S. officials to cut the number of American refueling aircraft at the airport to 20 by July 21, with the remaining planes to be transferred to Israeli Air Force bases.

U.S. tanker aircraft have been operating from Ben Gurion Airport and other locations throughout Israel since the outbreak of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran on Feb. 28.

The latest deployment follows growing reports in the Israeli media that both Washington and Jerusalem are making military preparations amid rapidly escalating tensions with Tehran.

Israeli news outlets reported on Shabbos that Israel’s defense establishment is preparing for the possibility of a major U.S. military strike against Iran. The reports came one day after President Donald Trump warned that the United States would hit Iran “very hard.”

{Matzav.com}

The Israel Defense Forces announced Friday night that it carried out a series of targeted strikes across the Gaza Strip, destroying five Hamas weapons storage sites—including one located beside Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah—as part of ongoing operations to eliminate terrorist threats.

According to the IDF, the operation was conducted under the direction of the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and targeted facilities where Hamas had stockpiled large quantities of military equipment. The caches reportedly contained Kalashnikov rifles, anti-tank launchers, explosive devices, ammunition, and other weapons intended for future attacks.

The military said one of the targeted weapons depots was situated adjacent to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital and served as a hideout for Hamas operatives who used the location to conceal arms.

“This is another example of Hamas’ systematic use of and embedding within civilian infrastructure, including medical facilities, to plan and carry out terrorist activities,” the IDF noted.

Israeli officials said the weapons stored at the sites were intended for use in attacks against IDF forces operating in the Yellow Line area, as well as Israeli civilians. The military said the strikes were carried out to eliminate that threat before the weapons could be used.

The IDF stressed that measures were taken in advance to reduce the risk of civilian casualties.

“Prior to the strikes, steps were taken to mitigate harm to civilians, including the issuing of advance warnings, the use of precise munitions, and aerial surveillance.”

The military added that Israeli forces remain deployed in the area under the terms of the ceasefire agreement and will continue operating against terrorist threats.

“IDF troops under the Southern Command remain deployed in the area in accordance with the ceasefire agreement and will continue to operate to remove any threat.”

{Matzav.com}

The U.S. State Department is urging Americans in parts of the Middle East to consider leaving the region and advising travelers to think twice before visiting, warning that rising tensions with Iran could quickly lead to airspace closures, flight disruptions, and attacks on American interests.

The advisory was issued through U.S. embassies in Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, cautioning that the regional security situation remains volatile.

“Due to heightened tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation.”

The State Department advised Americans already in the region to remain alert and be ready to leave if conditions deteriorate.

“Americans currently in the Middle East should exercise caution and heightened vigilance and should be prepared for flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures, and potential travel disruptions. Some airlines in the region have postponed resumption of earlier flight schedules; others have cancelled some routes. Americans in the region should consider departing, or be prepared to depart should there be escalation.”

The warning also extended to Americans planning future travel, encouraging them to avoid unnecessary trips to or through the Middle East.

“Americans outside the Middle East should seriously reconsider travel to and through the region. Those who do travel to or from the region should monitor information about airport and airline operations.”

The State Department also cautioned that U.S. diplomatic missions and other American interests could become targets of Iranian retaliation or attacks by Tehran’s allies.

“US diplomatic facilities, including outside the Middle East, have been targeted. Iran and groups supportive of Iran may target other US interests overseas or at locations associated with the United States and Americans throughout the world, including US businesses and other institutions.”

Officials emphasized that Iran’s recent actions have demonstrated the regime’s willingness to strike without warning and to expand its operations into areas previously untouched by the conflict.

“The situation in the Middle East remains fluid. The Iranian regime is unpredictable, as seen by its recent decisions to attack areas in the region without warning or provocations as well as to expand attacks to areas not previously targeted (such as Egypt). Americans should remain vigilant, as merely because US interests or businesses have not been attacked in a country in the past does not ensure their safety.”

Meanwhile, an Israeli source told Channel 12 that the region has reached a critical moment, with officials believing that “we are very close to the point of decision.” Although the White House has not yet made a final determination, the source said the possibility of a large-scale U.S. military operation against Iran is now under more serious consideration than at any previous point.

According to Israeli assessments, President Donald Trump is still evaluating both the scope of any potential military action and the manner in which it would be carried out. Officials remain uncertain whether Israel would participate from the beginning or whether the United States would initially act alone using American forces.

The source added that Trump has been presented with a proposal calling for precision strikes against key elements of Iran’s energy infrastructure. Israeli officials reportedly believe such an operation could place significant internal pressure on the Iranian regime while minimizing the impact on global energy markets.

{Matzav.com}

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman privately urged President Donald Trump to avoid launching large-scale airstrikes against Iran and instead pursue a path of de-escalation, according to a report by Axios citing U.S. officials and a source familiar with the discussions.

According to the report, the crown prince raised his concerns during a telephone conversation with Trump today as the president weighs possible military action against Iranian energy facilities. The deliberations follow Iran’s missile attack on a U.S. base in Jordan and continued threats to commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Although speculation mounted Friday that military action was imminent, Axios reported that Trump has not yet given final approval for any retaliatory strikes.

Iran has warned that any large-scale U.S. attack would trigger retaliation against energy and infrastructure sites across Israel and neighboring Gulf states.

“The Saudis expressed concern and asked for clarity about the plan of action,” one US official told Axios.

A second source familiar with the phone call said Crown Prince Mohammed urged Trump to seek a diplomatic solution rather than authorize a broad military campaign.

Neither the White House nor Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Washington commented on the reported conversation.

The phone call came just days after Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman met with Trump on Wednesday. According to the report, the meeting was added to the defense minister’s schedule after he first met with Vice President JD Vance to communicate Riyadh’s desire to reduce tensions, despite the United States and Saudi Arabia carrying out joint strikes earlier in the week against Iranian-backed militias in Iraq.

A source familiar with the discussions said the meetings were intended to convey the crown prince’s assessment of the conflict and the broader strategic situation in the region.

Saudi Arabia remains one of Washington’s closest allies in the Middle East and has played an influential role in shaping President Trump’s approach toward Iran at several key moments since the latest hostilities began.

Axios also reported that several other regional governments—including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Pakistan—have been urging both Washington and Tehran to avoid further escalation and return to diplomacy.

Today, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, who has reportedly served as an intermediary between the United States and Iran. Araghchi also held discussions with the foreign ministers of Turkey and Saudi Arabia regarding potential U.S. military action.

“Any hostile action by the US or Israel – or participation or cooperation by regional countries in such actions – would be met with a decisive and proportionate response from Iran’s powerful armed forces,” Araghchi told his Saudi counterpart, according to a statement on his Telegram channel.

A one-of-a-kind miniature Sefer Torah, measuring just 26 centimeters (10 inches) tall and featuring letters inscribed by many of the generation’s leading gedolei Torah, was presented as a special gift to the family of Brazilian philanthropist Alberto Abraham Safra in honor of his son’s bar mitzvah.

The extraordinary gift, presented by Yeshivas Ateres Shlomo, also included an intricately crafted miniature replica of the magnificent Aron Kodesh that stands in the yeshiva’s main bais medrash at the Safra Campus in Rishon LeZion.

The presentation came during a series of lavish bar mitzvah celebrations held in Eretz Yisroel over the past several days for the son of Safra, a prominent supporter of Torah institutions around the world. Hundreds of family members, friends, rabbanim, roshei yeshiva, and benefactors traveled from across the globe to participate in the festivities, which featured multiple events honoring both the bar mitzvah bochur and the Safra family’s longstanding commitment to the Torah world.

The centerpiece of Yeshivas Ateres Shlomo’s gift was what it called the “Torah of the Gedolim”—an exquisitely written miniature Sefer Torah measuring only 26 centimeters in height. The Torah was handwritten by a master sofer, with numerous leading gedolim personally writing individual letters as a merit for the bar mitzvah bochur and his family.

The Sefer Torah was housed in a traditional Sephardic-style Torah case engraved with the handwritten blessings and signatures of many of the generation’s foremost rabbinic leaders, making it both a sacred Torah scroll and a lasting keepsake of their personal brachos.

The presentation was made even more remarkable by its display. The Torah and its ornate case were placed inside a meticulously crafted miniature Aron Kodesh, built as an exact scale replica of the famous ark that adorns the main beis medrash of Yeshivas Ateres Shlomo at the Safra Campus in Rishon LeZion.

{Matzav.com}

An emotional scene unfolded in Haifa as Rav Shaul Alter, Rosh Yeshivas Pnei Menachem, paid a nichum aveilim visit to one of his talmidim, Rav Yisrael Stern, who is sitting shivah following the passing of his wife, Mrs. Elisheva Stern, a”h, daughter of Rav Eliezer Menachem Braun, z”l.

During the visit, the grieving husband shared the final moments he spent with his wife, recalling her deep devotion to Birchos HaShachar.

“Every day she would call me so I could answer amen to her Birchos HaShachar,” he said. “On her final day, we recited Birchos HaShachar together, and then we said Shema Yisrael together.”

Deeply moved, Rav Shaul offered words of emunah and consolation to the bereaved family.

“We must continue thanking Hashem until our very last breath. The Healer of the brokenhearted—only He can bind up their sorrow. What can a human being possibly say? What words are there?” he said.

Rav Shaul then reflected on the unique closeness to Hashem experienced by those whose hearts have been broken, citing the verse, “Karov Hashem l’nishberei lev—Hashem is close to the brokenhearted.”

“You don’t feel it,” he said, “but the brokenhearted are truly the ones closest to Him. ‘Karov Hashem l’nishberei lev‘—we have to make use of that.”

He added that this special closeness is not determined by pedigree, wealth, status, or public prominence.

“Karov Hashem l’nishberei lev—not grandchildren of great people, not wealthy individuals, not those with distinguished lineage, and not politicians,” Rav Shaul said.

His words were delivered in an atmosphere of profound grief, while offering the family comfort, faith, and encouragement to draw strength from their closeness to Hashem during their time of mourning.

{Matzav.com}

YERUSHALAYIM — A former employee at the Israeli Prime Minister’s Residence has filed a 300,000-shekel ($80,000) lawsuit against the Prime Minister’s Office, alleging that Sara Netanyahu subjected him to humiliation, verbal abuse, and workplace mistreatment throughout his employment.

The lawsuit, filed in the Regional Labor Court in Yerushalayim by Yechiel Ohev Ami, names the Prime Minister’s Office as the defendant and claims the alleged abuse was carried out by the prime minister’s wife.

According to the complaint, Ohev Ami, 61, who says he is the father of a son on the autism spectrum, began working in September 2025 as an operations assistant at the Prime Minister’s Residence. He alleges that from the outset he was instructed to follow Sara Netanyahu’s personal directives and that his workdays often began at 6:00 a.m. and continued until the early hours of the following morning.

The lawsuit claims that each morning he was required to wait in the security guards’ room until Sara Netanyahu woke up, prepare her breakfast exclusively in the guards’ kitchen on the lower floor, and serve it in multiple stages according to highly specific instructions. He alleges that even minor deviations—such as the plate used to serve an egg or the way vegetables were cut—resulted in yelling, insults, and verbal abuse.

Ohev Ami further alleges that he was instructed daily to clean the soles of dozens of pairs of shoes belonging to Binyomin and Sara Netanyahu using disinfectant wipes, while being careful not to place his hand inside the shoes, and to insert rolled-up paper into each pair. He also claims he was required to wipe down Sara Netanyahu’s handbag, suitcase wheels, dishes, and other household items. According to the lawsuit, he was also required to wash his hands and remove his shoes every time he entered the residence.

He alleges that whenever Sara Netanyahu hosted guests at the official residence on Balfour Street, he was required to remain on duty until the meetings concluded, even if they continued into the early morning hours. He also claims that she personally met with senior military and Shin Bet officials.

According to the complaint, the alleged verbal abuse intensified during the period of anti-government demonstrations outside the Prime Minister’s Residence. He claims Sara Netanyahu repeatedly shouted insults including, “Who’s the idiot?” “Who’s mentally disabled?” and “Who’s the fool?”

The lawsuit further alleges that he was required to crawl across the kitchen floor while cleaning it with small disinfectant wipes, wipe down silverware before washing it, and comply with numerous other highly detailed instructions. He claims that any mistake was met with shouting and profanity.

In one of the most serious allegations, Ohev Ami claims that on three separate occasions Sara Netanyahu physically shoved him against a wall. He also alleges that after he returned from a cigarette break, she told him, “I hope you get cancer,” and “I hope you die.”

According to the lawsuit, the most traumatic incident occurred when Sara Netanyahu allegedly told him: “I am the Prime Minister’s wife. I am the number one psychologist in Israel, and I have no competition. My treatment costs a great deal of money. I have diagnosed you—you are on the autism spectrum.”

Ohev Ami claims she then demanded that he pay her three months’ salary for the “diagnosis.” He argues that the remarks were especially devastating because he had previously shared with her that his son had been diagnosed with autism.

The lawsuit also alleges that the treatment he endured caused a significant deterioration in both his physical and emotional health. He says that on the day of the alleged incident, he attempted to file a complaint but instead was transported to the hospital by ambulance after experiencing severe emotional distress and chest pain. He later underwent surgery to receive a pacemaker.

According to the complaint, the final incident occurred on February 5, 2026, after Sara Netanyahu and her son, Yair Netanyahu, returned from the United States. Ohev Ami alleges that Sara Netanyahu criticized the way he swept leaves and shouted, “How does it feel to be the Prime Minister’s adviser like you tell everyone?”

He further claims that shortly afterward Yair Netanyahu approached him, grabbed his arm, and ordered him to “get out of the house immediately,” accusing him of failing to replace and wash his bed linens.

Ohev Ami says he was then removed from the residence and waited outside for approximately four hours, hoping to be allowed back to work. Two days later, on February 8, he was summoned to a pre-termination hearing, and on February 19 he officially received his dismissal letter.

The Prime Minister’s Office categorically denied all of the allegations.

“The Prime Minister’s Office completely rejects the claims raised in the lawsuit,” the office said in a statement. “These are baseless allegations that do not reflect reality, and the office will present its detailed response as part of the legal proceedings.”

The statement added that Ohev Ami was dismissed after a brief period of employment because of repeated professional shortcomings, poor performance, errors, difficulty working with colleagues, and failure to meet the demands of the position.

The Prime Minister’s Office further asserted that the allegations were raised only after his employment ended and after his request to return to work at the residence was denied. It described the lawsuit as “another attempt in the longstanding industry of extorting money from the state through false accusations against the Prime Minister’s wife.”

The office also noted that Sara Netanyahu recently prevailed in court against another former employee who had made similar allegations, saying the court ordered that employee to pay damages after rejecting the claims.

The Prime Minister’s Office said it is confident the facts will emerge during the legal proceedings and that it will provide a comprehensive response to every allegation in court.

{Matzav.com}