Former PM Residence Worker Sues Israeli PM’s Office Over Abuse by Sara Netanyahu

A former employee at the Israeli Prime Minister’s residence, Yechiel Ohev Ami, filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against the Prime Minister’s Office, alleging severe and ongoing mistreatment by Sara Netanyahu, wife of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The 61-year-old, who worked as an operations assistant, is seeking 450,000 shekels in damages, including approximately 300,000 shekels specifically from Sara Netanyahu.

In his complaint to the Regional Labor Court, Ohev Ami describes repeated verbal abuse, humiliations, excessive demands, and physical assaults by Sara Netanyahu. He claims she physically pushed him against a wall on three occasions, shouted insults such as "Who’s stupid? Who’s retarded?" and wished him cancer and death. The lawsuit also details Sara Netanyahu’s extreme reactions during protests outside the residence, including frequent calls to Interior Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and other officials, expressing fear that protesters might enter the home.

Ohev Ami recounts a particularly damaging incident on December 15, 2025, when Sara Netanyahu accused him of being on the autism spectrum and demanded payment for a psychological evaluation, despite him having previously informed her that his son is diagnosed with autism. This event caused him severe distress, leading to hospitalization for chest pain. The final incident prompting the lawsuit occurred on February 5, 2026, after Sara Netanyahu and her son Yair returned from the U.S. She reportedly berated him over how he swept leaves and shortly after, Yair Netanyahu demanded he leave the residence immediately, accusing him of not changing or washing his bedding.

Ohev Ami states he was expelled from the residence, left outside for hours, and summoned to a dismissal hearing two days later. During the hearing, he revealed misuse of the residence’s credit card for personal food purchases by staff. The lawsuit also describes his daily routine, including waiting for Sara Netanyahu to wake up, preparing breakfast in the security kitchen, and enduring harsh criticism for minor mistakes. He was also required to clean floors on his hands and knees, wipe dozens of shoes and personal items of the Netanyahu family, and handle luggage with excessive care.

The lawsuit paints a picture of a hostile work environment marked by verbal and physical abuse, unreasonable demands, and a culture of intimidation within the Prime Minister’s residence.