Tech Entrepreneur Oren Dobronsky Declines Likud Knesset Seat, Eyes AI Minister Role

Oren Dobronsky, an entrepreneur, has announced his decision to forgo a reserved spot within the top ten candidates for the Likud party's Knesset list. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had reportedly offered Dobronsky a position as Minister for Artificial Intelligence, along with the guaranteed Knesset seat. Dobronsky stated on Facebook that he prefers to serve as a professional minister, leveraging his expertise rather than entering politics as a Knesset member. He expressed his commitment to collaborating with Netanyahu and the Likud team to position Israel as a global leader in artificial intelligence.

Dobronsky, who holds both Israeli and U.S. citizenship, noted that renouncing his American citizenship would be necessary for certain government roles and could incur significant tax liabilities. These requirements might also complicate his potential appointment as a minister. Previously, Dobronsky faced public scrutiny for strong criticism of Donald Trump, for which he later apologized.