Sara Netanyahu, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's wife, has been accused by Israeli media outlets of pocketing thousands of US dollars' worth of public funds through bottle deposits.

Dubbed as 'Bottlegate', Mrs. Netanyahu is accused of returning empty bottles bought by the prime minister's office.

Israeli media, led by left-wing daily Haaretz which is credited for its solid, high-level reporting by Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, were quick to cover the issue ahead of the elections that will take place on March 17.

The Israeli daily had reported that Sara Netanyahu had pocketed bottle deposits worth 6,000 shekels ($1,500) per year, according to a former employee of the Prime Minister's residence.

Netanyahu couple later returned 4,000 shekels ($1,000) to the Treasury by check, but the amount is far less than the amount presumed pocketed, Haaretz said.

On Saturday January 30, Haaretz's editorial board called on Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein to open a criminal investigation against Sara Netanyahu. The daily later reported on Sunday that the Attorney General is expected to order a criminal investigation.

Benjamin Netanyahu earlier dismissed the allegations as "false accusations against me and my wife that seek to topple the Likud and bring the left to power," in a Facebook post.