Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s first handpicked addition to Likud’s Knesset slate is Oren Dobronsky, an Israeli-born technology entrepreneur who has spent much of the past two decades in the United States. Dobronsky co-founded Hotbar, became a Silicon Valley investor, and built the California restaurant chain Oren’s Hummus. His public professional profile lists Palo Alto as his location.
Likud announced this week that Dobronsky would be Netanyahu’s first reserved candidate and said he would lead the party’s work on artificial intelligence across the economy, education, medicine, and other fields. Walla subsequently reported that Netanyahu had promised him a ministerial portfolio dealing with AI if the prime minister forms the next government.
Within hours of the announcement, a recent social media post in which Dobronsky sharply attacked US President Donald Trump was circulated widely. Dobronsky apologized, saying he had lost his temper and regretted the post.
The appointment also comes in the middle of a heated national argument over Israelis who live abroad and plan to return to vote in the October 27 election. The Fly&Vote initiative says tens of thousands of Israelis overseas have registered and hopes eventually to help bring as many as 70,000 to Israel for Election Day.
Dobronsky may have a great deal to contribute. Israel needs serious people in public life who understand technology, entrepreneurship, investment, and the global competition over artificial intelligence. His record in the technology sector gives him experience that could prove valuable in government.
Netanyahu’s choice nevertheless raises a basic question that deserves a clear answer before Election Day: Is Dobronsky coming home?
This should not be read as criticism of Israelis who spend periods of their lives abroad. Israelis leave for work, study, family, professional opportunities, and many other legitimate reasons. Many remain deeply connected to the country, contribute to Israeli society from overseas, and eventually return. Israel benefits from those ties.
Israelis abroad should be encouraged to remain engaged with Jewish state
In many cases, time abroad allows Israelis to gain experience, expertise, and connections that ultimately strengthen the country. We should encourage those Israelis to remain engaged with Israel and, when they choose, to bring that experience home.
The issue here is much narrower. What level of commitment and physical presence should Israelis expect from someone seeking to represent them in the Knesset and potentially serve as a cabinet minister?
Publicly available profiles have placed Dobronsky and his family in Palo Alto for years. Israelis living abroad retain a legitimate stake in the country and have made enormous contributions to it, especially since October 7. Serving in the Knesset carries a different level of responsibility. Members make decisions about war, taxation, education, health, military service, and countless other matters whose consequences are felt every day by the people living here.
Israeli law makes the distinction relevant. An Israeli citizen who meets the legal requirements can run for the Knesset without a general residency requirement. Ministers, however, must be Israeli citizens and residents of Israel. If Dobronsky is being prepared for an AI ministry, voters deserve to know where he intends to base his life and when.
The question matters even more because Netanyahu is exercising considerable control over the Likud list. Likud members are preparing to vote in primaries while a number of reserved positions will bypass the party electorate.
Every reserved slot therefore carries a higher burden of explanation. Why this person? What public mission does the candidate bring? Has the candidate been properly vetted? What commitment is being made to voters?
The questions surrounding Dobronsky's selection
The Trump episode adds to those questions. Dobronsky has every right to criticize an American president. Israeli public officials must be able to disagree with Washington when Israel’s interests require it. His rapid apology immediately after entering politics does, however, raise questions about how carefully the party examined its first personal selection beforehand.
Israel should welcome talented Israelis who return from abroad to serve. Dobronsky could bring valuable experience from Silicon Valley into Israeli public life.
If that is what he intends to do, he should say so plainly.
A Knesset seat is a public trust. Likud voters, and the country as a whole, deserve to know that those asking to exercise that trust intend to live among the people they represent.