Political Activist and Insider Motti Sender Passes Away at Sunday
Israeli businessman and political activist Motti Sender, known for his involvement in sensitive backroom political contacts, has passed away at the age of several decades in public life.
Businessman and political activist Motti Sender, who operated behind the scenes of Israeli politics for years, passed away on Sunday. Although largely unknown to the general public, he was involved in sensitive political contacts and maintained ties with senior figures, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog.
Sender's name made headlines in January 2026 after an interview with the investigative program "Uvda," where he stated that on the eve of the 2021 presidential election, he was asked to deliver a message to Netanyahu's associates on behalf of Herzog.
According to his account, the message suggested that Herzog was an "expert in dismantling complex explosive devices"—a hint that, according to Sender, referred to the possibility of assisting Netanyahu with his legal affairs in exchange for support in Herzog's presidential bid.
While Sender noted the message was meant to explore potential avenues, the claims sparked a public uproar over the implications connecting a presidential election to a prime minister's legal issues. The President's Residence categorically denied the allegations, stating no such agreement or understanding ever existed.
