Journalist Recounts Telling Netanyahu He Was 'Most Spoiled Prime Minister'

Israeli journalist Udi Segal has revealed personal anecdotes about his interactions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, including a time he told the premier he was the "most spoiled prime minister I know." Segal made these remarks during a discussion on the podcast hosted by Sefi Ovadia and Lior Kinan, where he reflected on his past coverage of Netanyahu.

Segal recounted that while Netanyahu claimed the media was overly harsh towards him, Segal argued that the media was actually less aggressive towards Netanyahu compared to former prime ministers like Ehud Olmert, Ariel Sharon, and Yitzhak Rabin. He suggested that Netanyahu's perception of media treatment might be skewed.

Responding to a question about whether a more conciliatory media approach might have yielded a different Netanyahu today, Segal acknowledged that Netanyahu had changed over the years. He specifically noted that prior to 2015, Netanyahu was not as problematic, but afterward, he "went to other places."

Segal also stated that Netanyahu used to receive direct criticism, with Segal telling him, "You are actually decent, but your channel is not." However, Segal observed that Netanyahu's approach shifted over time, leading him to surround himself with media outlets that only flatter him, which Segal described as "propaganda channels."