Storm Over Yair Netanyahu’s Proposed Appointment to a Senior Zionist Organization Post

Tensions erupted last night (Wednesday) during a meeting of the World Zionist Organization’s Standing Committee, held at the United Nations Buildings in Jerusalem, after the candidacy of Yair Netanyahu, son of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was presented for the position of Director of the Publicity Department in the Zionist Executive — a post that carries the salary and conditions of a government minister.

The committee’s plenary session, which was expected to vote on the appointment, descended into chaos and astonishment as Netanyahu Jr.’s name was announced. The session was ultimately suspended without a vote, and discussions will resume in two weeks.

Opposition Withdraws in Protest

In reaction, Yesh Atid and the Democratic Party, both signatories to a power-sharing agreement within the Zionist institutions, withdrew their consent, saying they had been blindsided by the nomination.
While the agreement divides positions between factions, it does not specify individuals — making Yair Netanyahu’s nomination a surprise even to coalition partners.

Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid immediately rejected the move, writing on X:

“We heard with astonishment the disgraceful decision to appoint Yair Netanyahu. Yesh Atid will not sign any such agreement. There will be no deal. Period.”

Party officials described the session as a “complete breakdown,” with one senior figure saying:

“The moment Yair Netanyahu’s name was mentioned — everything stopped. People were stunned.”

The Democratic Party also condemned the move, calling it a “corrupt and shameful appointment” and accusing the Likud of attempting a “mafia-style takeover of the Zionist institutions.”

Minister Zohar Defends the Appointment

Minister of Culture and Sports Miki Zohar, who presented the nomination, lashed out at the opposition’s reaction:

“This is hypocrisy and wicked populism. They’ve appointed dozens of relatives to public positions over the years — and now they persecute someone just because his last name is Netanyahu? Yair wanted to serve Israel and the Jewish people in the Diaspora. Shame on you.”

Zohar added defiantly:

“I will not withdraw Yair Netanyahu’s candidacy — even if the Prime Minister asks me to.”

Sources within the Zionist Organization claim that during Netanyahu’s recent trip to New York, the Prime Minister personally lobbied delegates to back Zohar’s bid for Chairman of the World Zionist Organization, reportedly in exchange for the nomination of his son.

Ministerial Perks and Potential Roles

Had the appointment gone ahead, Yair Netanyahu would have received ministerial-level benefits — including an office, vehicle, staff, and a salary set at 4% below that of a government minister.

The position would have given him a choice among several top-tier portfolios, such as:

• Head of the Department for Combating Antisemitism

• Head of the Hebrew Language Promotion Department

• Head of the Department for Zionist Education

• Head of the French-speaking Public Activity Department

However, following the uproar, it remains unclear whether the appointment will proceed when discussions resume.

Pattern of Political Appointments Raises Questions

Yair Netanyahu’s proposed nomination follows a series of family-linked appointments in national institutions.
Among them: Momo Deri, brother of Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri, who is slated to become Associate Chairman of the Jewish National Fund (JNF) for five years. His nephew Yanki Deri was previously appointed to head the Zionist Organization’s fundraising department in 2020, also with ministerial-level benefits.

Senior Zionist Organization officials expressed outrage over the latest development:

“This was a secret deal between Bibi and Miki Zohar,” one source said. “Everything was coordinated in advance — Netanyahu helped Zohar in the internal elections, and in return, Zohar nominated Yair.”

Political Fallout: “A Crisis of Credibility”

The crisis has now frozen all appointments within the Zionist Executive. Opposition representatives say the incident underscores how Israel’s national institutions have been turned into platforms for political patronage.

A senior figure in the organization summarized:

“Over the years, political parties on both sides have used these institutions for their own people. But this time, the brazenness shocked even veterans. It’s no longer about ideology — it’s about jobs.”