TV: PM’s wife made mask video as ‘excuse’ to get haircut in breach of lockdown
Sara Netanyahu filmed a video calling on Israelis to wear masks during the coronavirus pandemic as an “excuse” to have a hairdresser come to the Prime Minister’s Residence in Jerusalem, according to a TV report Wednesday, hours after it was reported the premier’s wife got a haircut in violation of the current lockdown restrictions.
“Sources familiar with what’s going on at the Prime Minister’s Residence” told Channel 13 News that the hairdresser had been brought there previously to cut Sara Nentahyahu’s hair. The report did not specify when these haircuts took place.
Hair salons and barbershops were allowed to reopen in April following the initial lockdown, but were ordered to close again as part of a renewed national closure that began last month. The current lockdown regulations also forbid Israelis from entering other people’s homes for non-essential purposes. Hairdressers are not considered essential.
“Sara requested the hairdresser to get a haircut and a blow-dry,” the netweok quoted a source as saying. “The video was only an excuse to bring the hairdresser home.”
The sources also said a driver was tasked with bringing the hairdresser to the Prime Minister’s Residence.
“Everything is managed like a military operation. One of the drivers brings the hairdresser to the residence, everything in accordance with the craziness of the prime minister’s wife. You can’t tell her no,” the source said.
The Netanyahu family dismissed the report.
“A transparent attempt to recycle a story from yesterday. You’re invited to check how hairdressers and makeup artists work in news and media studios,” the family said in response.
Earlier, the Yedioth Ahronoth daily reported that Sara Netanyahu had the hairdresser come to the residence, on Jerusalem’s Balfour Street, on Friday, the eve of the Sukkot holiday.
It was unclear whether she would pay a fine for violating the lockdown regulations. The law stipulates a NIS 500 fine for being in another person’s home, though that is generally levied on the visitor, not the host.
The report said that sources representing Sara Netanyahu confirmed the hairdresser came to the residence, but that she believed the taxpayer-funded haircut was allowed because it was for an appearance in an informational PR video. According to the report, the prime minister has been allowed to continue having his hair done due to his public appearances.
“Sara Netanyahu strictly adheres to the Health Ministry guidelines. During the lockdown she did not leave home and she manages her work routine as a child psychologist mainly through Zoom meetings and telephone calls,” the sources said. “Before the Sukkot holiday, Mrs. Netanyahu filmed an informational video in the service of the public in which she called on everyone to wear masks. Since she is an influential public figure and this was an informational video in the service of the public, she assumed she was allowed to use the services of a hairdresser.”
Both Sara Netanyahu and the barber wore masks and gloves, and she “even asked the barber to avoid conversation out of caution,” the statement said.
In the video, published on Sara Netanyahu’s personal Instagram account, she called on the public to wear masks and stick to distancing rules.
שימרו על עצמכם ושימרו על ההנחיות. אוהבת שרה ❤️
A post shared by Sara Netanyahu (@sara.netanyahu) on Oct 2, 2020 at 5:43am PDT
The report is the second time the Netanyahus have been accused of violating lockdown violations. In April, pictures emerged showing a visit by the couple’s son Avner to their home for the Passover holiday, despite rules forbidding such visits by family members who do not share a residence.
A string of public figures has been accused of disregarding the rules enforced on the general public, which critics say has contributed to a lack of public trust and uneven compliance with lockdown regulations.