Journalist Lihi Lapid, the wife of Yesh Atid Chairman Yair Lapid, has taken a leave of absence from her job as columnist at Yedioth Aharonoth, and joined her husband’s campaign – where she has begun criticizing the Netanyahus’ allegedly profligate lifestyle.

While Yair Lapid is not ruling out sitting in a coalition with Netanyahu, Lihi Lapid’s criticism of Netanyahu’s wife, Sara, may make that more difficult.

Lihi Lapid told Channel 2, in regard to allegations of excess spending by Sara Netanyahu: “This corruption starts with the fact that people do not respect something small – public property and public money – I mean, it does not belong to anyone. This money has to be treated with respect. People work hard to pay taxes. You can’t turn it into a private party.”

“When I hear about the expenditures there [at the prime minister’s residence], I expect public officials to treat public funds like they treat their own money,” she added. “I think it’s very sad when I find out that this is not happening. I think the prime minister’s wife needs to be someone whom any woman should be proud of.”

Lapid also hosted an event Sunday for the party’s Women’s Staff. Like her husband, she would not rule out sitting in a coalition with Netanyahu. 

Yesh Atid is considered a Center-Left party, as is Moshe Kahlon’s Kulanu. While there does not seem to be a real option for a Labor coalition, Netanyahu may need at least one of them in order to have the support of 61 MKs.