I prefer odd to she-was-actively-misleading-me-about-her-motivation.
That could be a part of the case. You always need a good story to survive Israeli bureaucracy. If you'll tell the truth, you simply won't get anywhere/what you need (as yours truly learned in flesh).
Personally, I offset the lying (for I feel very bad about it, but if you need anything that doesn't sound "normal" to them - and I'm not talking about a loan or something like it, because nobody would lie about it, but getting the freaking simple forms and getting them processed can be hell) with the crazy commissions the bank takes from me. And you know what? I can be lying to them from here to eternity: they'll still get more money out of me. I don't think that there's a single form or activity which the bank doesn't get a nice, healthy commission on.
Just to be clear: I'm talking about what it takes to get the simple forms. Not loans, opening an account, all of that. From standing orders forms downward, you'll be asked why you're doing it and what for. And if your story doesn't sound normal, it'll take eternity to get processed. Hence, the lying.
That's bizarre - where was this?
L.A. (took the train to San Diago), but I can't remember where, exactly.