Article in The Times of Israel by Andy Blumenthal: In light of the radical left’s latest accusations and chants of “Crime Minister” against Bibi, here is a list of no less than a dozen claims made against Bibi over the past 20 years, ranging from the ridiculous to the absurd. All of these allegations so far have been found to be without merit and thus are ostensibly politically motivated versions of ridiculous “bubba maisa” (old wives tales).

1. 3/7/23, 2:28 AM The Framing of Bibi | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-framing-of-bibi/ 1/8
THE BLOGS
Andy Blumenthal
Leadership With Heart
The Framing of Bibi
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2. 3/7/23, 2:28 AM The Framing of Bibi | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-framing-of-bibi/ 2/8
Adapted from Kindel Media via https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-a-person-s-hand-with-a-handcuff-
7785048/
This week, riot police had to save Sara Netanyahu, the wife of Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. She was being held hostage in a hair salon by
leftist mobs outside who were protesting against judicial reform in Israel. But,
unfortunately, the leftist extremists’ wild, over-the-top claims and behaviors are
not a one-time thing when they try to get rid of the Netanyahus.
Since Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu became Israel’s prime minister in 1996, the
left has been trying to discredit him and his government in order to get rid of
them and put in place their liberal ruling base. Since the disastrous surprise
attack of the Yom Kippur War and the waves of terrorism, Jihadist attacks, and
Intifadas that followed, most Israelis have moved to the right and follow the
“peace through strength” philosophy. Thus, the left has been having a hard time
actually winning votes, and instead it has turned to an endless series of phony
accusations of corruption and mismanagement to try and turn the tide on their
political opponents.

3. 3/7/23, 2:28 AM The Framing of Bibi | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-framing-of-bibi/ 3/8
Yet, in virtually every allegation against Netanyahu, no matter how many
thousands of hours were spent searching, investigating, and questioning Bibi, it
was found that the accusations against him were made up, “smoke and mirrors,”
and more “fake news.” This is like Russia-Gate, which was a scandal involving
former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russia. After a thorough investigation,
Special Counsel Robert Mueller found that Trump and Russia did not work
together.
Currently, the leftists in Israel, angry again about losing the recent elections, are
making all sorts of exaggerated and phony claims against Bibi, this time in the
context of the pending judicial overhaul that would remove their liberal
stranglehold on the court system and instead bring it more in line with the
democratic version of the United States, where the President nominates
justices.
In light of the radical left’s latest accusations and chants of “Crime Minister”
against Bibi, here is a list of no less than a dozen claims made against Bibi over
the past 20 years, ranging from the ridiculous to the absurd. All of these
allegations so far have been found to be without merit and thus are ostensibly
politically motivated versions of ridiculous “bubba maisa” (old wives tales):
Year Accusation Opposition Claims Findings
1999 Movers Affair An inflated moving bill
covered earlier private
moving expenses.
The bill was not paid, and
the mover was found to
have previously
overcharged clients.
1999 Gifts Affair Official government gifts
in Netanyahu’s
belongings
None were found.
2001 Baron-Hebron
Affair
He intended to appoint
Ronnie Baron as
Attorney General in
The case was closed.

4. 3/7/23, 2:28 AM The Framing of Bibi | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-framing-of-bibi/ 4/8
exchange for voting for a
deal on Hebron.
2011 Bibi Tours
Affair
Double-billing travel
expenditures
The case was closed.
2013 Pistachio AffairBuying too much
pistachio ice cream
The accusation was
dropped.
2013 Laundry Affair Ordering excessive
laundry and dry cleaning
including for underwear
The case was closed, and
the appellants were fined
for court costs.
2015 Garden
Furniture
Affair
Relocating three garden
chairs to a private home
Chairs were found to have
been bought by Netanyahu.
2018 Meal Tray
Affair
They ordered meals from
a restaurant instead of
using in-house cooks.
NGO petitioned to increase
the fine on Sara Netanyahu,
and the court threw it out
and fined the NGO.
2019 Submarine
Affair
(Case 3000)
Instructed the IDF to
purchase submarines
from Thyssen-Krupp to
benefit his cousin’s
company.
Netanyahu is not a suspect.
2019 Case 1000 He received cigars and
champagne from a
friend.
Cases are pending.
2019 Case 2000 Graft for press coverage
2019 Case 4000 Graft for press coverage
In Benjamin Netanyahu’s book, Bibi: My Story, he lays out four reasons why he
believes the left has so vehemently continued to attack him over the years. First,
other strong leaders on the right have been similarly vilified, with Jabotinsky
being called “Vladamir Hitler” and Begin being defamed as a “fascist.” Second,

5. 3/7/23, 2:28 AM The Framing of Bibi | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-framing-of-bibi/ 5/8
Bibi was the leader of the opposition when Rabin was assassinated, and so the
left blames him for fomenting the murder and killing the peace deal with the
Palestinians. Third, Netanyahu’s long rule of more than 15 years has destroyed
the left’s hopes of restoring their power anytime soon. Fourth, Israeli society
has become more divided, just like American society has. The Internet and
social media have fueled this and, in many cases, brought it to a boil.
Despite all the charges brought over the many years against Netayahu, none of
which have stuck, what stands out from Bibi’s biography is that in 2017, a
candidate for the Labor Party Knesset list was caught on a hot mic stating:
In another case, in 2022, a witness whose phone was illegally hacked testified in
court that police investigators told him to “think of his wife and children,” and
effectively, he was instructed to “bring us Bibi’s head.”
While no politician, especially one who has been in office for nearly two
decades, is going to be found squeaky clean, I do believe that overall the
Netanyahus are fundamentally good people who have served selflessly for the
Jewish people and the State of Israel, and their “reward” has been to suffer the
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You want to take down Bibi? It will be difficult to take him down in elections…
You want to bring him down? Let’s bring him down through corruption. ”
“

6. 3/7/23, 2:28 AM The Framing of Bibi | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-framing-of-bibi/ 6/8
relentless anger and aggression of the left for losing the majority vote and their
power. I think in America, we call this being “sore losers.”
In modern Israeli politics, the alt-left is getting stuck on a platform of hatred
and ridiculing the other side. They revert to “grasping at straws,” making phony
allegations (like the age-old false blood libels against the Jews), to try to get rid
of their opponents. This makes them look and sound like they don’t have any
new or powerful ideas for building the economy, making peace (with security),
or building the future of the state. The sensible people on the left should work
together with the right to solve problems instead of trying to make yet another
desperate, false accusation.
I will give the final word on this matter to the Rebbe, whose message and
blessing to Netanyahu already in 1984 on his way to the United Nations, and
subsequently to the Knesset and as Prime Minister of Israel, was as follows:
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You are going to the House of Lies. Remember, that even in a hall of total
darkness, if you light just one candle, its precious light will be seen far and
wide. You will light that candle of truth for the People of Israel! ”
“

7. 3/7/23, 2:28 AM The Framing of Bibi | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-framing-of-bibi/ 7/8
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andy Blumenthal is a dynamic, award-winning leader who writes frequently about Jewish life,
culture, and security. All opinions are his own.
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C claytonmiller06111
8 hours ago
The Left is really starting to lose it.
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L lburrows3
1 day ago
According to this writer, it's the "leftists," "the radical left" and "the wild left" who is
to blame. Then he misinterprets the Mueller report on Trump, which did NOT

8. 3/7/23, 2:28 AM The Framing of Bibi | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-framing-of-bibi/ 8/8
exonerate the former president. Such uninformed foolishness and agit-prop aren't
worth the electrons it takes to publish them.
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