First Lady Sara Netanyahu Accused of Seeking Paid Roles for Son

Sara Netanyahu, the wife of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is facing serious allegations regarding her involvement with the Jewish National Fund (JNF), an Israeli national institution. According to sources who were candidates for senior positions within the organization, Netanyahu allegedly pressured the JNF to arrange paid lectures for her son, Yair Netanyahu, and to find him a lucrative position.

These demands, alongside pressure to appoint former Knesset member Osnat Mark, a close associate of Netanyahu, as chief of staff, reportedly led to an unprecedented crisis within the JNF. This crisis culminated in the dramatic resignation of the organization's chairman, Eli Vered Hazan, who submitted his resignation to the board.

Further claims suggest that Netanyahu instructed the JNF to immediately cease paid lectures by political rivals, specifically mentioning former Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked. The Likud party has vehemently denied these accusations, calling them "an absolute lie." A statement from the party asserted that Mrs. Netanyahu did not interfere in any appointments or matters concerning the JNF and had no direct or indirect contact with its representatives. The party characterized the allegations as baseless smears surfacing before elections as part of a campaign against her.

These allegations surface amidst a significant development in a separate legal case involving Sara Netanyahu. The Magistrate's Court recently accepted a request from former residence employee S ilvi Gnessia, overturning a previous ruling that had ordered Gnessia to pay Netanyahu NIS 100,000 in compensation.