Former Chief of Staff Yoav Horowitz Accuses Netanyahu of Family-Driven Loyalty Pledge

He said the demand originated from the family itself and that Netanyahu endorsed it, though Horowitz refused to implement it. Horowitz also claimed that a call from a family member prompted Netanyahu to cancel an agreement with the United Nations on the resettlement of African migrants and asylum seekers, reversing the deal within hours of announcing it.

Times of Israel

Horowitz first worked on Netanyahu’s 2006 Likud primary campaign and later led the Prime Minister’s Office. His three sons served on the front lines during the Hamas attack on that date, a personal experience he says reshaped his political outlook. The anti-judicial-reform protest on Kaplan Street in Tel Aviv on July 29, 2023, featured Horowitz among the demonstrators.

The Jerusalem Post

• “My children and yours deserve honest leadership,” — Yoav Horowitz

The Jerusalem Post

• “One of the office staff came to me and said there was a demand from the house [i.e. the family] to make all of the office staff sign a pledge of loyalty to the Netanyahu family.” — Yoav Horowitz

Times of Israel

• “The country isn’t the same country after that day, and I’m not the same person. We are at a very dangerous crossroads that requires us — all of us — [to undergo] deep self-reflection and change,” — Yoav Horowitz

Times of Israel

Horowitz’s accusations have intensified scrutiny of the Netanyahu family’s role in government operations and have been cited by protestors demanding greater transparency and accountability. The allegations also revive debate over the separation of personal loyalty from public service in Israel’s political system, a topic that may shape upcoming electoral dynamics and legislative reforms.

The Jerusalem Post