President Herzog Clashes With Channel 14 Host Over Arab Party

President Isaac Herzog engaged in a heated exchange with Magi Taviivi, a host on Channel 14, during an interview on Wednesday. The discussion focused on pressing issues facing Israelis, including elections and former President Trump's potential pardon for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Taviivi pressed Herzog for his stance on Mansour Abbas, the head of the Arab party Ra'am, questioning how a party whose leader has not condemned groups like Hamas and Hezbollah could run in elections. Herzog attempted to deflect, stating Taviivi was trying to draw him into criticizing Abbas. Taviivi insisted she sought his opinion, not an attack.

Herzog responded, "There is no chance I will answer you." The interview intensified as Taviivi continued to question Herzog about Ra'am, referencing Abbas's alleged 2018 meetings with Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders. Herzog stated that the Supreme Court, not him, determines a party's eligibility to run, adding that politicians from across the spectrum engage with Ra'am.

Taviivi persisted, asking if Herzog considered them "worthy." Herzog expressed impatience, lamenting the use of an interview before Yom Kippur for specific questions about leaders. Taviivi countered that the public also wanted answers to these questions. Herzog reiterated that it was not a question for the president to answer, prompting Taviivi to remark, "Okay, so you refuse to condemn."