Netanyahu's moving out, but not soon enough for critics

Jerusalem, Jun 20 (AP) Benjamin Netanyahu says he and his family will move out of Israel's official prime minister's residence by July 10, nearly a month after he was ousted from office following a record 12-year reign.

That's not nearly soon enough for critics who have long accused Netanyahus of treating office and its trappings as ir own private property, and who see it as anor way of undermining legitimacy of new government sworn in a week ago.

In a joint statement released late Saturday, Netanyahu and Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said y h agreed Netanyahus would move out by July 10 and that no more public events would be held at residence until n. Bennett will begin using residence next day.

Netanyahu, who is now opposition leer, has a private home in seaside city of Caesarea. Bennett will reportedly continue to reside at his home in a Tel Aviv suburb, using official residence during trips to Jerusalem and for hosting foreign dignitaries.

relatively modest official residence on Balfour Street in central Jerusalem has been epicenter of weekly protests against Netanyahu over past year, reflecting bitter polarization over his rule and his ongoing trial on serious corruption charges.

On Saturday night, protesters showed up with a moving truck with “Crime Minister” written on side of it.

“y are ordering food, people are coming in to visit m, nobody knows when y are going to leave,” said Ishay Has, one of organisers.

“We decided to come with our truck, and we are rey to help him anytime.” Some have compared Netanyahu to former President Donald Trump, who contested his election defeat with false claims of voter fraud and whose supporters stormed US Capitol.

Trump skipped President Joe Biden's inauguration but vacated White House on schedule. Unlike in US, Israel has no established protocol for handover of residence.

political transition has alrey been more bitter than any in recent memory.

After four elections in two years that largely turned on Netanyahu's character and legal woes, a coalition of eight parties managed to form a narrow majority to unseat him.

But he has not gone quietly.

Bennett's speech as incoming prime minister was repeatedly interrupted by loud heckling from Netanyahu's allies.

In his own speech afterwards, Netanyahu lashed out at Bennett, calling him weak and inexperienced, and accusing him of defrauding his nationalist supporters by allying with left-wing parties. Netanyahu vowed to return to power, saying “we'll be back soon.” On following day, Netanyahu reportedly devoted less than a half-hour to a transitional meeting with Bennett in which a former prime minister would normally discuss country's extensive security challenges and or major issues with his or her successor.

n Netanyahu hosted former US ambassor to UN Nikki Haley, a Republican widely seen as eyeing a presidential run, at official residence. In a tweet about visit, she referred to him as prime minister.

“Netanyahu's current status in official residence is that of a temporary guest, staying re at mercy of Bennett,” Amir Tibon wrote in Israel's left-leaning Haaretz newspaper.

“His decision to use Balfour for a political photo op with Haley is an unprecedented act of chutzpah, even by Netanyahu's own standards.” Netanyahu has long been accused of leing a lavish lifestyle and using trappings of office for his own personal gain. He is on trial for fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes.

His family's long residence at house on Balfour Street has also been focus of lawsuits, with several employees having accused his wife, Sara, of abusive behaviour.

A housekeeper was awarded USD 42,000 in damages in 2016, and anor filed a lawsuit last year.

Sara Netanyahu was convicted of misusing state funds after she reached a plea bargain settling allegations that she overspent some USD 100,000 of state money on lavish meals.

She'd previously been indicted for graft, fraud and breach of trust.

family denies any wrongdoing and have said y are target of a smear campaign by hostile media. Netanyahu has said he is victim of a “witch hunt” by his political opponents and has compared his corruption trial to a “coup attempt.” protests outside residence appear likely to continue until y move out, which will be seen by his many of his opponents as final confirmation that his time in power is truly over — at least for now.

“He thinks that if he will keep on saying I'm prime minister, if he will stay in home of prime minister, people will believe that he is prime minister,” said Mordechai Avraham, one of protesters who gared outside residence on Saturday.

“People will believe that he is going to come back because this is what he told m.” (AP) RUP RUP