Marrakech – Sara Netanyahu, the spouse of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is embroiled in a fresh legal battle, accused of subjecting a long-serving household employee to years of mistreatment and derogatory comments, including an anti-Moroccan slur. Rami Ben Hamo, who dedicated over a decade to the Prime Minister’s Office and the official residence, lodged the complaint on Tuesday at the Jerusalem Regional Labor Court, in which he seeks compensation totaling NIS 450,000 (approximately $150,000). This amount includes NIS 400,000 for non-financial damages stemming from workplace abuse, emotional distress, and a breach of good faith, alongside an additional NIS 50,000 for alleged violations of Israel's labor laws.
According to the allegations presented in the lawsuit, Ben Hamo served as a household worker from March 2023 through December 2025 and claims to have endured “extreme abuse” on a daily basis, often in violation of Israeli labor regulations regarding working hours. One particularly humiliating incident occurred when he struggled to fold plastic bags to her satisfaction. Ben Hamo asserts that Sara Netanyahu scornfully remarked, “Come, I’ll teach you how to fold bags,” followed by demeaning comments such as, “My children fold better than you,” and the derogatory slur, “You’re a backward Moroccan.” Other reports have described the insult as “unsophisticated” or “underdeveloped” Moroccan, further emphasizing the derogatory nature of her comments.
Ben Hamo contends that the reference to his Moroccan heritage was not only deeply offensive but also a repeated source of humiliation throughout his employment. The lawsuit describes a pattern of daily degradation associated with routine chores. He alleges that he was frequently instructed to clean her personal belongings, including her bags, and was required to wash his hands upon entering the house and between various tasks—sometimes exceeding ten times a day. Failure to comply reportedly led to shouting and insults, with comments like “You don’t know how to clean,” and “Why aren’t the baseboards clean?” becoming commonplace.
His workdays often commenced around 7:30 a.m. and extended into the late hours, with claims of 60 to 80 overtime hours each month. The lawsuit specifies that he was compelled to work during Shabbat, despite being observant, and was once called to the Balfour residence on a Saturday evening to wash dishes. Even when his health declined—he suffered a cardiac event during work in February 2025—Ben Hamo alleges that Sara Netanyahu's treatment became increasingly harsh, with her dismissive remarks only compounding his distress.
The suit also recounts an incident in which Sara Netanyahu allegedly threw several plastic bags onto the floor, leaving him to crawl and gather them as she expressed her anger by slamming a bottle of tonic water. Furthermore, during a confrontation with her husband, Ben Hamo claims she misrepresented his words, stating he wished her dead, when in reality, he had expressed a desire to escape his difficult job. Initially, he approached the role with respect for the couple, but he asserts that his experience led him to feel more like a slave than an employee, a sentiment echoed by other former staff members.
This lawsuit is not an isolated incident in the Netanyahu household. The allegations against Sara Netanyahu echo a troubling trend in which employees have faced similar mistreatment. A separate claim was filed last month by Yehiel Ohev-Ami, who alleged that Sara Netanyahu verbally abused him before firing him, demanding unjustified payments and making offensive remarks about his son’s autism. Historical patterns of derogatory behavior have emerged, with previous lawsuits highlighting similar claims of abuse and racial insensitivity, particularly toward employees of Moroccan descent.
As Israel prepares for a general election in October, these allegations take on heightened significance, especially given that Netanyahu’s main rival, Gadi Eisenkot, has roots in Moroccan-Jewish heritage. The implications of these legal battles may reverberate through the electorate, particularly among Mizrahi voters, who have historically been courted by Netanyahu’s Likud party. This ongoing situation not only raises serious questions about Sara Netanyahu's conduct but also reflects broader societal issues regarding race and class in Israel.
As reported by moroccoworldnews.com.
