“Ever wondered who lived here before it became the Prime Minister’s residence?” Beit Aghion stands before you a testament to history. This elegant building at 9 Smolenskin Street wasn’t always the official home of Israel’s Prime Minister. It was built between 1936 and 1938 for Edward Aghion a wealthy Greek-Jewish merchant from Alexandria Egypt. The German architect Richard Kauffmann designed the beautiful structure. Its Jerusalem stone exterior speaks of its heritage.
The house holds fascinating secrets. In 1941 King Peter II of Yugoslavia sought refuge within its walls. During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War it served as a hospital for Irgun fighters. Imagine the stories those stones could tell.
In 1952 the Israeli government purchased Beit Aghion. Initially it was intended as a residence for the Foreign Minister. However in 1974 a decision was made to make it the official residence of the Prime Minister. This marked the end of an era for Julius Jacobs House the previous official residence.
Security concerns led to the construction of a wall around the building in the 1990s. A section of Balfour Street was closed to traffic. The Prime Minister’s residence became a symbol of power and a fortress. Benjamin Netanyahu resided here until July 2021.
There were plans to relocate the Prime Minister’s residence. The ambitious Almog Project proposed uniting the residence with the Prime Minister’s office. This extravagant plan with an estimated cost of 650 million shekels was eventually canceled. It was revived later but ultimately halted. A new plan called the Shira Project is currently underway. It will create a combined office and residence on the Government Campus. Beit Aghion remains largely unrenovated. Netanyahu’s return to office in 2023 saw him reside in his other homes. In 2024 Netanyahu’s government approved funds for the new compound’s construction.
Beit Aghion stands as a silent observer of Israeli history a blend of architectural styles and political power. It’s a place where past meets present a place of quiet dignity. Its future remains to be written.