PM's former caretaker says his car torched overnight
Vehicle of Meni Naftali, who has been leading anti-corruption protests against Benjamin Netanyahu, found damaged in northern city of Afula on Sunday night in what appears to be attempted arson; police launch investigation.
The police are investigating an attempted arson attack Sunday night on the vehicle of Meni Naftali, who served as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's caretaker and has become one of his main opponents.
Firefighters and police officers were called to the scene of the incident in the northern city of Afula after smoke was seen coming out of a car on the Janusz Korczak street. The vehicle was left damaged.
"My car has been burned down," Naftali tweeted on Sunday night.
Naftali worked at the Prime Minister's Residence for over 20 months, from February 2011 to November 2012. He quit his position after he wasn’t given the status of civil servant and a tenure promised to him at the beginning of his employment.
Subsequently, Naftali filed a claim against the Prime Minister’s Office and the office's Deputy Director-General Ezra Seidoff, as well as against the prime minister's wife, Sara Netanyahu ,and against Benjamin Netanyahu himself.
Since then, Naftali has become one of Netanyahu’s prominent opponents. He has also been a leading figure in recent demonstrations against "government corruption" focusing on the prime minister's criminal investigations.
Meni Naftali’s attorney Daniel Haklai said in response, “I don’t know if there’s a connection between the incident and the fact that he’s the main prosecution witness in Sara Netanyahu's criminal trial. I truly hope there isn’t a connection.
"Netanyahu wasn't interested in the murder of (Prime Minister Yitzhak) Rabin, obviously. But he was irresponsible and inflamed the tensions. I hope this time he will calm his people and his supporters before it’s too late and some hothead decides to hurt Meni physically. Either way, the Israel Police have opened a investigation and we’re demanding that they investigate the incident thoroughly."
