Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed his chief of staff following the emergence of leaked comments in which the aide allegedly made racist remarks.
In a post on X late Sunday, Netanyahu confirmed that Ziv Agmon would step down in the coming days once his successor, Ido Norden, assumes office.
Agmon, who had been serving as acting chief of staff and spokesperson, drew widespread condemnation after reportedly referring to Jews of Moroccan descent as “baboons” and making disparaging comments about members of the Likud party, as well as Netanyahu’s wife and son.
The decision to replace him marked a swift reversal by the prime minister. Just hours earlier, Likud’s official Telegram channel had quoted Netanyahu expressing a desire for Agmon to remain in the role in the interest of “stability and continuity.”
However, Norden’s appointment has also attracted scrutiny. Israeli journalists reported that he had previously operated fake X accounts to promote his book on the “deep state,” in which he attributes Israel’s failure to prevent the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas to hidden institutional forces.
His appointment is still subject to vetting by Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic security agency.
A lawyer and economist, Norden currently chairs the “Forum of Senior Officials,” a right-wing think tank that advocates for greater ideological diversity within Israel’s public institutions and criticises what it describes as a lack of diverse viewpoints.
The development is the latest in a series of controversies within Netanyahu’s inner circle. Recently, his close ally Tzachi Braverman, who is slated to become Israel’s ambassador to London, was questioned by police over alleged interference in a leak investigation tied to the Gaza war.
Additionally, members of Netanyahu’s circle have faced scrutiny in the so-called “Qatargate” scandal, involving allegations that former aides accepted funds from Qatar to improve the country’s image in Israel during the conflict.
What you should know
Benjamin Netanyahu has removed his chief of staff following backlash over racist remarks, replacing him with Ido Norden, whose own past actions are now under scrutiny.
The situation highlights ongoing instability within Netanyahu’s inner circle, with multiple controversies, including investigations and scandals, raising questions about leadership dynamics in Israel amid a sensitive political and security climate.
