A report from Channel 12 reports that Sara Netanyahu, the wife of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,  has attempted to sack government spokesperson Eylon Levy from his role due to Levy’s participation in the 2023 Israeli judicial reform protests preceding the Israel-Hamas War. Tweets from Levy during the time of the protests have circulated within the prime minister’s inner circle, leading to some discontent.

The attempt by Sara Netanyahu to influence Levy’s position has triggered a backlash. The Movement for Quality Government in Israel has taken action, requesting the government legal advisor to define the boundaries of her involvement in governmental affairs.

Dr. Eliad Shraga, the organization’s chairman, stated, “The law does not define any public status or area of responsibility for the spouse of the Prime Minister… Mrs. Netanyahu has not submitted herself to the voter test and does not hold any public office and, therefore, cannot interfere in anything that has not been specifically defined for her to interfere in.”

Adding to the controversy, MK Ze’ev Elkin, chairman of the subcommittee for foreign policy and information, sent a letter to Moshik Aviv, head of hasbara – public diplomacy, in which he expresses surprise over reports suggesting a reduction in Levy’s briefings and potential dismissal due to external pressures. Elkin’s letter highlights Levy’s positive reputation and demands a prompt and detailed response, threatening to escalate the matter to the committee’s agenda.

Levy, a former international media advisor to President Yitzchak Herzog, has gained international recognition over the course of the ongoing conflict, thanks to his articulate and passionate defense of Israel on the world stage. In an interview with The Jerusalem Post, Levy said, “I don’t think that personal, private, or political opinions about issues that aren’t even on the agenda at the moment are relevant.”

The Public Diplomacy Department responded to the report about Levy’s potential dismissal, saying, “The report is incorrect. The Public Diplomacy Department operates in a professional manner.”

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