Prime Minister's wife, Sara Netanyahu, was outraged over Education Minister Yoav Kish's decision to hold the Israel Awards ceremony on the planned Independence Day, and to award the award to entrepreneur Eyal Waldman. Kish has denied Waldman's claim, according to which he did not act on his own accord but according to instructions from above and from the Prime Minister's entourage.
The office of the Minister of Education Kish stated in response: "All decisions regarding the Israel Prize were made by Minister Kish in consultation with the professionals of the profession only"