From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, December 27, 2022
Hanegbi appointed head of NSC; predicted Netanyahu to strike Iran nuclear sites
Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appoints veteran Likud and Kadima minister Tzachi Hanegbi as head of the National Security Council, replacing Eyal Hulata.
Hanegbi, 65, has headed a range of ministries over the past three decades, including Health, Justice, and Internal Security.
He has also been the minister tasked with overseeing the Mossad and Shin Bet intelligence agencies, the Atomic Energy Agency, and security ties with the United States.
Hanegbi, a journalist and paratrooper during his IDF service, also served as deputy foreign minister and head of the Knesset’s powerful Foreign Affairs Committee.
He is considered an expert on Iran’s nuclear program.
Last month, Hanegbi said he believes Netanyahu will order a strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities if the US does not secure a new nuclear deal with Tehran and fails to take action itself.
Speaking to Channel 12 news, Hanegbi said that in such a situation, Netanyahu “will act, in my assessment, to destroy the nuclear facilities in Iran.”
Hanegbi, who did not make it into the Knesset (after placing 46 on the party’s slate in primaries), has made threats of a potential Israeli strike in the past to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
Hanegbi has faced legal troubles in his career, including being cleared for bribery and fraud charges, while being found guilty of perjury. The case revolved around appointments made to his Environmental Protection Ministry.
