From the Liveblog of
Monday, September 4, 2023
In interview, PM ally Hanegbi appears to say overhaul protests prevented dictatorship
In an interview set to air later today, National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi appears to say Israel’s anti-overhaul protest movement prevented Israel from sliding toward dictatorship.
In a promo for the Channel 12 interview, Hanegbi says “I was very surprised” by the public response to the government’s judicial shakeup plan.
“That’s why I was very glad when I understood that the protesters’ bleak forecasts simply weren’t going to come true. Which I’m sure they are happy about.”
Asked by the interviewer what forecasts he’s referring to, Hanegbi answers: “That we’re headed to a dictatorship.”
When the interviewer says this was due to the protests, Hanegbi seems to respond: “Exactly so. The protest movement was the most effective factor in stopping the original plans for judicial reform. That’s a fact.”
It is not immediately clear whether the promo’s editing accurately reflects Hanegbi’s position, which would be highly surprising for a longtime Likud stalwart and ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Hanegbi has so far not commented on the matter.
צפיתי בזה 3 פעמים, כדי להיות בטוח. צחי הנגבי מרים למחאה ואומר שהיא עצרה את הדיקטטורה.
צחי, תמצמץ פעמיים אם נחטפת. pic.twitter.com/e1bLFLp9Al— Ben Caspit בן כספית (@BenCaspit) September 4, 2023
The Times of Israel Community.