Regev 'answers call from mom' in Knesset stunt over police spyware

‘What do I want to eat on Shabbat? Let’s ask the NSO people what they want, and we’ll coordinate with them,’ says Likud MK while holding phone to her ear during speech

Likud MK Miri Regev appeared to answer a phone call from her mother in an apparent stunt during a Knesset session on alleged phone hacking by police.

Regev was giving a speech to the parliament Monday when she picked up her phone.

“Hello? Mom? I’m in the middle of a plenary now,” Regev said.

The Likud lawmaker was scolded by Deputy Speaker Eitan Ginzburg, who told her it was inappropriate to take the call, but she continued.

“What do I want to eat on Shabbat? Let’s ask the NSO people what they want for Shabbat and we will coordinate with them,” Regev said, referring to the Israeli firm behind the Pegasus spyware allegedly used to target citizens.

Ginzburg told Regev that her behavior was “unacceptable,” and that the use of a phone was forbidden, but she was undeterred and continued to “talk to her mother” from a phone that in video footage appeared not to be making a call.

פרשת פגסוס:
ח"כ מירי רגב: "הלו? אמא? אני באמצע מליאה עכשיו"
סגן היו"ר גינצבורג: "ח"כ רגב זה לא מקובל זה אסור!"
ח"כ רגב: "מה אני רוצה לאכול בשבת? בואו נשאל את אנשי NSO מה רוצים לשבת נתאם איתם". צפו#פגסוס #ריגול @regev_miri @EitanGinzburg @omerbarlev @IL_police pic.twitter.com/haISBVkJJV

— ערוץ כנסת (@KnessetT) February 7, 2022

Regev eventually put the phone down and continued her speech with an attack on the coalition over the spyware hacking, ignoring the fact that the events in question allegedly took place while she was in government.

“Where is the public security minister? Say something to calm the worried public. Just say something,” Regev said.

The “phone call” came amid outrage over a Calcalist report that police deployed spyware, without the required judicial oversight, against senior government officials, mayors, activist leaders, journalists, and former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s family members and advisers.

A police-run probe into the matter said that only three people named in the report on the alleged hacking were in fact targeted, only one of them successfully, and all with judicial approval. Public Security Minister Omer Barlev presented the results of the probe to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett during a meeting of top government officials on Tuesday to discuss the allegations and consider establishing a state commission of inquiry, which requires full cabinet approval.