Who wields power: the one who makes the official decision, or the person whose counsel they trust most? This question has accompanied Israel for years in light of allegations that Sara Netanyahu influences personnel decisions and the circle around the Prime Minister. Benjamin Netanyahu rejects these allegations. The Bible has recognized the tension between closeness, influence, and responsibility from its very first pages: women shape the actions of patriarchs and kings, yet responsibility for decisions remains with those who exercise power.
Over the years, people from Netanyahu’s inner circle have testified about his wife’s political interference and her role in personnel decisions. Avigdor Lieberman and Nir Hefetz, among others, described her influence on the selection of people in Netanyahu’s circle. Netanyahu himself rejected the allegations that his wife determines appointments, making clear that he makes the decisions.
The extent to which Sara Netanyahu influences the running of the state is disputed. Yet the possibility that a person holding official power is strongly shaped by their closest confidant is all too familiar...
Become a Member
-
Read all member content
Get exclusive in-depth reports from Israel.
-
Get exclusive in-depth reports from Israel
Connect with Israel, right from your home.
-
Lift up the voice of truth and hope
Support Jerusalem-based Zionist journalism.
Already a member? Login here.
