Matan Sidi, a spokesman for Prime Minister Naftali Bennett for the past four years, resigned today (Monday).
Sidi, 26, has served since the formation of the government as head of the communications department at the Prime Minister's Office and as the prime minister's personal communications adviser.
He later served as spokesman for the State Comptroller and Ombudsman, Matanyahu Engelman.
In the past year, he served as the Prime Minister's political spokesman, and at the same time was entrusted with managing the communications system of the Prime Minister's Office and its branches, including the Mossad, the National Security Staff, the National Economic Council, the National Cyber System, the State Archives and more.
His successor will be the Prime Minister's political spokesman, Yotam Ben Yitzhak.
Sidi has accompanied Bennett for about four years, and among other things served as spokesman for the defense minister.
He briefly parted ways with Bennett, one who failed in the 2019 election and did not cross the blocking percentage, but re-managed his spokesperson lineup in the subsequent election.
He continued with Bennett in subsequent years as well, including in the coalition negotiations that led to the formation of the current government.
Matan Sidi, Photo: Yonatan Zindel / Flash 90
Sidi was known for his absolute loyalty to Bennett, even in the most difficult conditions.
He is considered a reliable and accessible speaker, answering all who turn to him around the clock.
His departure comes as part of a deliberate process led by Bennett, to reshape his bureau, after a year in power in which he is not strengthened in public opinion.
Against this background, and due to the conflicts that have characterized the bureau in the past year, Bennett has in recent weeks said goodbye to the political advisor, Shimrit Meir, his secret agent No. 1, Tal Gan Zvi, the close assistant, Naomi Sasson, and now his closest spokesman, Matan Sidi.
Everyone has been in Bennett's first circle in recent years, and according to sources in his office he has made a conscious decision to part with them.
Sidi had originally planned to leave after President Biden's visit.
However, following the American decision to postpone the arrival of the president, he decided that he must end now.
In conversations with family and friends, he justified the departure with a sense of exhaustion and the fact that he no longer has the necessary strength to give Bennett the maximum energy required for the stressful role.
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