Sarah Netanyahu is the wife of the Prime Minister of Israel. Photo: open sources
The Jerusalem District Court continues to consider a lawsuit filed by Etzlacha for a Just Society, which demands that the office of the Israeli Prime Minister and his wife, Sarah Netanyahu, disclose her official schedule.
According to the Maariv newspaper, Judge Yoram Noam is considering the organisation’s request for access to Netanyahu’s diary, including information about his official activities, participation in negotiations, meetings and state events.
The essence of the claim: public interest versus the right to privacy
The plaintiffs argue that since the Prime Minister’s wife uses state resources to perform her functions, her activities should be transparent to the public. The organisation recalls that similar schedules, including those of Israel’s first ladies, have been published before.
On the other hand, Sarah Netanyahu and the other defendants object to the publication of her diary. They insist that the Freedom of Information Act does not apply to the Prime Minister’s wife, as she is not an elected official or civil servant.
Security and privacy as defence arguments
Netanyahu’s representatives also stated that the publication of her schedule could violate her right to privacy and even pose a security risk, as she is under Shabak protection.
The Prime Minister’s Office insists that without her personal consent, the Commissioner for Freedom of Information does not have access to her electronic calendar and cannot provide the requested data.
Partial disclosure of information
As part of the trial, Sarah Netanyahu voluntarily provided partial information about her activities from October 2023 to March 2024, including her participation in official delegations. The defendants believe that the public interest has already been satisfied.
The court is continuing to consider the case, and its decision may set a precedent for the transparency of the activities of the wives of high-ranking officials in Israel.
