Benjamin Netanyahu's office is in chaos after the Prime Minister of Israel was forced to dismiss his chief of staff, Ziv Agmon, amidst a firestorm of outrage over leaked comments that allegedly contained racist remarks. Agmon, who had been serving in a dual capacity as acting chief of staff and spokesperson, is accused of making derogatory comments about Jews of Moroccan descent, as well as criticizing members of Netanyahu's own Likud party and the Prime Minister's family. The decision to let Agmon go marks a sudden reversal, as Netanyahu had initially indicated that he wanted to keep Agmon in the role to maintain stability and continuity.
Agmon will be leaving his position in the coming days, and Ido Norden will be taking over as his successor. However, Norden's appointment has already raised eyebrows due to past allegations of operating fake social media accounts to promote his book on the deep state. The book reportedly links Israel's failure to prevent the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack to hidden institutional forces. As Norden's appointment is still subject to vetting by the Shin Bet, Israel's domestic security agency, it remains to be seen whether he will be cleared for the role.
Norden is a lawyer and economist, and he's also known for leading a right-leaning think tank that advocates for greater ideological diversity within Israel's public sector. This latest development adds to the ongoing tensions within Netanyahu's inner circle, which has faced repeated controversies in recent months. The Prime Minister's
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