Likud Denies Claims Sarah Netanyahu Made Racist Remarks Against Moroccan Israelis

The ruling Likud party has strongly denied allegations that Sarah Netanyahu, wife of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, made racist comments towards a former household employee, specifically calling him a "Moroccan undeveloped person." The party issued a detailed statement rejecting the claims as entirely false, describing the lawsuit as part of a fabricated plot involving extortion and political propaganda aimed at undermining the right-wing government ahead of upcoming elections.

The controversy erupted following a civil lawsuit filed at the Jerusalem Regional Labor Court by Rami Ben Hamo, who worked in the Prime Minister's official residence from March 2023 to December 2025. The suit alleges that during a heated argument about folding plastic bags, Sarah Netanyahu insulted him with the phrase "you are a Moroccan undeveloped person," accompanied by other degrading remarks. Ben Hamo claims the offensive comments were repeated multiple times, causing him significant emotional distress due to his ethnic background.

Likud attributes the media reports to a coordinated smear campaign, emphasizing that Sarah Netanyahu has been a target of Israeli media attacks for over 30 years. The party stresses that the accusations are politically motivated attempts to damage the right-wing bloc’s chances in the elections and to extract financial gain. Likud also points out the timing of the lawsuit as suspicious and insists the public recognizes the truth and does not fall for such malicious propaganda.

This lawsuit follows a similar claim filed just a month earlier by another former employee, Yechiel Ohev Ami, who raised comparable complaints about working conditions and treatment in the Prime Minister’s residence. Likud’s statement firmly rejects all allegations, calling them fake news and a deliberate attempt to harm the Netanyahu family and the broader right-wing camp.