Lior Atiya, who previously worked at the Israeli Prime Minister's Residence, spoke Sunday morning on Galei Israel radio to address allegations made by Yoav Horowitz, the former chief of staff and director-general of the Prime Minister's Office. Horowitz had recently given an interview making serious claims about the conduct of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara, and about the family's influence on the office's operations.
Atiya, who served as a hairstylist at the residence, offered a sharply different account. "I worked with Sara Netanyahu for nearly two years, and it struck me as very strange that just before the elections, this campaign against the prime minister's wife is starting up again," he said. "The treatment I received was the complete opposite of what's portrayed in the media. It was 'Would you like something to drink?' and so on — all within pleasant, enjoyable conversation."
He emphasized his political independence to underscore his credibility: "I should also mention that I don't vote for Netanyahu, so it won't sound like I'm taking a political side. I'm on the side of the truth."
