Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara have decamped to the luxury mansion of a billionaire friend amid a growing tide of public anger.

The private mansion in Jerusalem is said to be equipped with a deep nuclear bunker, and on Wednesday, staff were busy securing the compound. It is owned by the US duty free billionaire Simon Falic.

The couple, who were accused of taking luxury gifts – including champagne and jewellery worth tens of thousands of dollars – from their wealthy donor friends. The Netanyahus have two private residences in Jerusalem and one in the affluent coastal town of Caesarea.

The move has caused outrage in Israel. Journalist Uri Misgav shared photos of the property and said: “We renovate, secure and finance three homes for the Netanyahu family.”

He said the staff are being moved there, including their personal chef, with the preparations suggesting future meetings with world leaders will also be relocated there.

It comes as Mr Netanyahu’s popularity has sunk dramatically since the invasion. His wife is also deeply unpopular, and has been blamed for a delay in the government response to the Hamas attack of October 7.

A security source close to the situation said Mrs Netanyahu holds “a unique position in Israeli politics, serving as the closest advisor to the prime minister”, putting her in the direct line of fire for a string of controversial political moves which have this year seen hundreds of thousands of Israelis protesting against the premier and his right-wing coalition.

Proposed judicial reform and increased settlement expansion have brought the country’s worst civil unrest in recent times, with a war which has been the most deadly day for Jews since the holocaust.

Scrutiny over extravagant lifestyle

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the security source explained: “Her influence on political decisions surpasses that of any previous prime minister’s spouse in Israeli history and even on a global scale. Over the years, the Netanyahus as a family, have faced scrutiny for their extravagant lifestyle.

“Additionally, Netanyahu has been indicted in multiple cases involving allegations of receiving gifts and bribes. In these controversies, Sara’s involvement has been significant, yet they often present themselves as victims of a witch hunt.”

The gated mansion with its high level security will offer the PM’s wife a greater degree of privacy, away from the limelight and rising public anger.

“The Netanyahus’ fleeing to the mansion is driven by their own fears as the Israeli public grows increasingly angry,” said Ben Caspit, author of The Netanyahu Years.

Mrs Netanyahu is largely blamed for the five-day delay in forming an emergency war cabinet, and has been disapproving of the former defence chief, Benny Gantz, joining the coalition, deeming him “weak”.

“Sara is most definitely not welcome at any of the shivas [wakes] or funerals,” Mr Caspit added. “The fear of potential protesters has limited her ability to appear in public spaces, even during her visits to military bases, where soldiers are disarmed before her arrival.”