Former PM Residence Cleaner Alleges Abuse and Harsh Conditions by Sara Netanyahu

A former cleaning supervisor at the Israeli Prime Minister's official residence on Gaza Street, identified as Y, has filed a lawsuit against the Prime Minister's Office alleging severe mistreatment and abuse by Sara Netanyahu, wife of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a detailed affidavit and interview with Channel 12 News, Y described extreme cleanliness rituals, verbal and physical abuse, and excessive working hours. He recounted being subjected to daily humiliations, strict hygiene protocols, and cleaning tasks that included crawling on floors with baby wipes and meticulously cleaning hundreds of shoes.

Y, 62, who previously worked as a security guard at the Rami Levy supermarket chain, was hired after a security check and interview with senior officials. He said Sara Netanyahu personally questioned his loyalty before he started and quickly realized the job was far from what he expected. He described incidents of verbal abuse including death wishes, racial discrimination against Mizrahi workers, and physical intimidation. Y also reported that Sara Netanyahu controlled food waste obsessively and forbade trash disposal without her approval, as she would search the bins for discarded items.

The lawsuit details episodes of physical aggression where Sara Netanyahu pushed Y against walls and shouted insults. Y also described how Prime Minister Netanyahu tried to intervene on several occasions but was met with harsh reprimands from his wife. Y recounted a particularly painful moment when Sara Netanyahu insulted him about his autistic son, which deeply affected him. The stressful working conditions led to Y suffering two heart incidents, requiring hospitalization and a pacemaker implant.

Y’s employment ended after an incident in February 2026 involving Sara and their son Yair Netanyahu, who physically removed him from the residence following a dispute over unwashed linens. After waiting outside for hours, Y left and was later summoned for a dismissal hearing. The Prime Minister's Office denied all allegations, calling the lawsuit a baseless attempt to extort money and citing poor job performance and disciplinary issues as reasons for termination. They emphasized that Sara Netanyahu had recently won a defamation case against a former employee.

The case highlights ongoing tensions and controversies surrounding the Netanyahu family’s management of the Prime Minister’s residence and raises questions about workplace conditions there. The lawsuit is expected to proceed through the legal system, where the claims will be examined in detail.