Netanyahu's Wife Allegedly Pushed for Ex-Lawmaker's Top Job at Jewish Foundation
Sara Netanyahu allegedly exerted pressure to appoint former Likud Knesset member Osnat Mark as chief of staff for Eliad Hazan, the newly appointed chairman of the Jewish National Fund (JNF) World Chairman, according to a report by Ilea Zilberberg in Israel Hayom. The alleged attempt to secure the position for Mark has reportedly caused an unprecedented crisis within the Zionist institution.
Hazan, who previously served as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's spokesperson and political advisor, was appointed JNF World Chairman earlier this month representing the Likud party. Following his appointment, Hazan reportedly began promoting Mark's candidacy for chief of staff due to alleged pressure from the Prime Minister's wife. This proposed appointment faced strong opposition from the JNF's fundraising representatives, who gather funds from Jewish communities worldwide for Israel.
According to the report, these representatives informed Hazan that they would not accept Mark's appointment, with one message stating, "It will not happen." Another message conveyed, "She cannot serve in this role at any price." The dispute escalated further, with the fundraisers demanding Hazan's resignation over his attempt to advance Mark's appointment. As of the report's publication, Hazan had rejected their demand.
Osnat Mark's name has been floated for other positions previously. She was considered for the directorship of the Ministry of Science and Technology but withdrew her consent after public criticism. Later, she was proposed for the head of the Fair Trade and Consumer Protection Authority, but that appointment process was frozen. The report also claims Sara Netanyahu advocated for Mark to become the Likud party's director, a role ultimately given to David Sharan.
Osnat Mark stated, "This is a collection of lies and falsehoods that, if published, will be met with a resounding lawsuit for libel and defamation." Neither Sara Netanyahu nor the Likud party provided a response.
