Netanyahu Adds US-Based Businessman Oren Dobronski to Likud List Amid Dual Citizenship and Legal Issues

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently secured a spot for businessman Oren Dobronski on the Likud party list for the upcoming Knesset elections. Dobronski, a successful entrepreneur and one of Israel's early high-tech pioneers, has lived in the United States for over two decades, primarily in Silicon Valley. Netanyahu's office announced Dobronski will lead initiatives on artificial intelligence across various sectors if elected.

Dobronski currently holds American citizenship and owns multiple companies and assets in the US, including a $5 million home in Palo Alto, California. He also co-owns a chain of hummus restaurants named Oren’s Hummus with his wife, Nancy. Under Israeli law, a Knesset member with dual citizenship must renounce their foreign citizenship before taking office, which for Dobronski entails paying a significant "exit tax" to the US. He has not publicly confirmed his willingness to do so.

In Israel, Dobronski is involved in several companies, including "Ben Gurion and HaYarkon Ltd." and "Uniper Care Technologies Ltd." In the US, he is linked to at least nine companies. His restaurant chain has faced legal challenges, including a $300,000 settlement over labor law violations and a separate sexual harassment lawsuit that was settled out of court. Dobronski has not commented on these matters.

Dobronski is known in Israel for appearing on the TV show "The Sharks," alongside businessman Dov Frances, a Netanyahu associate who employs Netanyahu’s son. Frances and Dobronski have a financial relationship dating back to 2015 when Dobronski lent Frances money to start his independent venture.

Dobronski’s inclusion on the Likud list highlights Netanyahu’s strategy to integrate influential business figures with international ties into Israeli politics, despite potential complications related to dual citizenship and legal controversies.