Israel's Likud party has issued a categorical denial of allegations that Sara Netanyahu, wife of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, made derogatory remarks about Moroccan Jews. The party's sharp response follows a civil lawsuit filed at the Jerusalem Regional Labor Court seeking 450,000 shekels in damages, which includes claims of offensive ethnic-based comments directed at a former household employee at the Prime Minister's official residence.
According to Likud's statement, "The malicious and false narrative about the Prime Minister's wife, Sara Netanyahu, continues. Sara Netanyahu has been the punching bag of the Israeli media for over 30 years." The party directly addressed the central allegation, stating unequivocally that she "never said the things attributed to her regarding Moroccan Jews, nor the other falsehoods published yesterday and throughout the years."
The lawsuit was filed by Rami Ben Hamo, who worked as a household employee at the Prime Minister's Office and official residence from March 2023 through December 2025. This case follows another similar complaint filed just a month earlier by another residence employee, Yehiel Ohev Ami, with comparable allegations regarding working conditions and treatment.
At the heart of Ben Hamo's lawsuit is a claim that during a heated argument over how plastic bags should be folded at the residence, Sara Netanyahu allegedly told him: "You are an undeveloped Moroccan." The suit alleges this was accompanied by additional demeaning statements such as "You should pay me a salary for teaching you how to work" and "I am the Prime Minister's wife, you will do what I tell you."
Ben Hamo claims in his filing that the psychological damage from this comment was particularly severe given his heritage, and that the offensive remark was repeated more than once until he tearfully begged her to stop. His lawsuit describes a broader pattern of alleged mistreatment, including demands to work irregular hours, requirements to clean personal items meticulously, harsh treatment even after he underwent a medical procedure and catheterization, and refusal to allow him to leave his position while citing harassment as the reason.
Likud characterized the entire matter as a coordinated political operation. The party stated that "as the election date approaches, we witness false hate campaigns like these and others whose purpose is one: to extort state funds and bring down the Likud government, and prevent a right-wing victory." The statement emphasized that "all the mental gymnastics done against Sara Netanyahu over the years cannot change her true character, which is the complete opposite. There are large and wise publics who do not fall for this toxic propaganda, and love and appreciate Sara Netanyahu for all her work on behalf of Israel's children and citizens over recent decades."
