By Katya Adler
BBC News, Jerusalem
**The wife of Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu is suing an Israeli newspaper for libel and defamation of character.**Maariv, one of Israel’s best-selling dailies, alleged Sara Netanyahu had fired a 70-year-old gardener at her husband’s official residence.
Mrs Netanyahu has come under attack across the Israeli media recently for allegedly treating staff badly.
She says the article does not contain a grain of truth, and insists the paper is trying to humiliate her.
A former air stewardess and now a practising psychologist, Mrs Netanyahu is already the focus of a flurry of unwanted media attention.
A former housekeeper is suing her for alleged ill-treatment.
Mrs Netanyahu faced similar accusations from household staff just over 10 years ago, during her husband’s last tenure as Israel’s prime minister.
The Netanyahus have vehemently rejected all the allegations.
Israeli media reports allege that Mrs Netanyahu wields considerable influence over her husband’s decision-making, especially over who is employed at the prime minister’s office.
Last week, Mr Netanyahu told Israeli reporters to direct their criticism at him and to leave his wife and children alone.