Complaints concerning working conditions at the Israeli prime minister’s residence involving Sara Netanyahu, the wife of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, have been brought before the courts for more than 25 years. Employees have alleged that they were subjected to shouting, insults and harsh working conditions.
Some filings resulted in compensation awards, while other cases were closed through settlements or rejected. Sara Netanyahu and her lawyers denied the allegations, arguing that they were attempts to conduct a media campaign and obtain money from the state.
Allegations at the prime minister’s residence
Last year, 61-year-old Yechiel Ohav Ami, who worked at the prime minister’s residence, alleged that Sara Netanyahu shouted at and insulted him and once asked him to clean the kitchen floor while crawling.
Ami also alleged that Sara Netanyahu wished for him to get cancer and die. He said that after telling her he was autistic, she introduced herself as the country’s number one psychiatrist.
The Prime Minister’s Office denied the allegations, describing them as an attempt to obtain money from the state by damaging the prime minister’s wife’s reputation. Sara Netanyahu filed a lawsuit against Ami, alleging that he had filmed the prime minister’s residence without authorization and violated her privacy.
Compensation rulings by the courts
In a lawsuit filed by Meni Naftali, the former manager of the prime minister’s residence, over working conditions, the Jerusalem Regional Labor Court ruled in February 2016 that 170,000 shekels in compensation should be paid.
The court concluded that poor working conditions existed at the residence as a result of Sara Netanyahu’s interactions with employees. The ruling was issued not against Sara Netanyahu personally, but against the state and the relevant institutions, which were parties to the case.
Maintenance worker Guy Eliyahu also alleged in a lawsuit that resulted in compensation in 2016 that he had worked in an environment dominated by fear, shouting, reprimands and insults. Eliyahu said that on one occasion he had to return home after midnight to heat soup for Sara Netanyahu, while on another occasion he was called back to say good night to her. He also alleged that he sometimes worked up to 19 hours a day.
Rejected and dismissed cases
Cook Eti Hayim alleged that Sara Netanyahu struck her hand after she opened a cabinet without washing her hands. Hayim also said that employees were shouted at, tablecloths were pulled away and tables had to be rearranged within a few minutes. Sara Netanyahu denied these allegations.
Cleaner Shira Raban said that she had been shouted at and insulted and that she felt like a slave. Raban’s lawsuit was rejected in February 2022. The court concluded that Raban had failed to prove that she had been mistreated and that her account was not credible.
Employee Sylvie Gensia alleged in 2020 that she had been shouted at, insulted and had an iron thrown at her. The lawsuit was later dismissed after the required pleadings were not submitted. In a countersuit filed by Sara Netanyahu, Gensia was ordered to pay approximately 100,000 shekels and legal costs.
2024 ruling in favor of three former employees
In 2024, the Labor Court ruled in favor of three former employees of the prime minister’s residence. The Prime Minister’s Office was ordered to pay approximately 900,000 shekels in compensation for violations of labor rights, unpaid overtime and unpaid work performed on Saturdays and holidays.
Two of the employees described their working conditions as “modern slavery.” This compensation ruling was also issued not against Sara Netanyahu personally, but against the Prime Minister’s Office as the employer.
Filing closed through a confidential settlement
In April, another employee alleged that Sara Netanyahu threw pieces of tomatoes and olives at her after becoming angry about the quantities of onions, tomatoes and olives being prepared for breakfast. The employee alleged that the incident took place in front of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.
The case later concluded with a confidential settlement reached with the staffing company, and the employee was paid tens of thousands of shekels. No court ruling confirmed that the incident had occurred.
