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Netanyahu uses Likud’s first reserved slot for businessman who called Trump ‘morally corrupt'

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party has reserved a Knesset list slot for businessman Oren Dobronsky, who is expected to lead AI development initiatives.
  • Shortly after the announcement, Dobronsky's past criticism of former U.S. President Donald Trump as "morally corrupt" resurfaced.
  • Dobronsky later apologized for his past remarks about Trump, calling him a great friend to Israel and expressing regret for his comment.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party announced that businessman Oren Dobronsky will receive the party's first reserved slot on the Knesset list ahead of upcoming elections. The party described Dobronsky, a co-founder of the tech company Hotbar, as right-wing and indicated he would be instrumental in developing artificial intelligence across various sectors, including the economy, education, and medicine, after the elections.

Put aside for a moment the question of whether the agreement with Iran is good or bad. In what world is it normal not to invite to the negotiating table the ally that fought shoulder to shoulder with you? Not only did Trump not invite Israel to the negotiating table, he didn't even share the text of the agreement itself with it? What kind of morally corrupt person treats an ally like that?

— Oren DobronskyA past post on X/Twitter criticizing former U.S. President Donald Trump's handling of the Iran deal and his relationship with Israel.

However, the announcement was quickly followed by the emergence of past statements made by Dobronsky on X/Twitter, where he had strongly criticized former U.S. President Donald Trump, calling him "a morally corrupt person." Dobronsky questioned Trump's treatment of Israel as an ally during negotiations, particularly regarding the Iran deal.

In response to the resurfaced comments, Dobronsky issued an apology on Facebook. He stated that Trump is the "greatest friend that Israel ever had in the Whitehouse" and expressed regret for his past remarks, attributing them to a moment of losing temper without knowing all the facts. He added that he had posted in Trump's favor countless times and admired him dearly.

President Trump is the greatest friend that Israel ever had in the Whitehouse. I posted in his favor countless times. On one occasion, not knowing all the facts, I lost my temper and posted something I regret. My apologies to President Trump whom I admire deerly.

— Oren DobronskyAn apology issued on Facebook regarding his past critical remarks about Donald Trump.

Dobronsky is a well-known figure in the Israeli and American tech industries, having co-founded a successful toolbar company and later investing in startups. He also founded Oren's Hummus in Palo Alto, a popular meeting spot for tech professionals, and appeared as an investor on the television program "Shark Tank." Likud reiterated its welcome for Dobronsky, highlighting his success in the high-tech industry and his right-wing political stance.

The Likud movement welcomes Oren Dubronsky as the party’s first reserved candidate. Oren is a successful businessman, one of the pioneers of Israel’s high-tech industry, and a right-wing

— Likud partyStatement welcoming Oren Dobronsky to the party and highlighting his qualifications.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.