Ex-National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi to Vote for Lieberman, Not Likud

Tzachi Hanegbi, the former National Security Advisor and a long-time senior figure in the Likud party and various Netanyahu governments, announced on Tuesday that he will vote for Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu party in the upcoming Knesset elections. In a personal op-ed published on ynet, Hanegbi explained his decision to depart from the political framework he has been part of for decades, criticizing the current direction of parts of the Israeli right. Hanegbi, who served as head of the National Security Council during the October 7th Hamas attack and the subsequent war, and whose term ended in October 2025 following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision, described this as an unusual personal choice. He stated, "In the upcoming elections, I will vote for Avigdor Lieberman." This will be his 18th election, but the first time he will vote for a list not including his name or that of his mother, former Knesset Member Geulah Cohen.

Hanegbi asserted that he still considers himself right-wing but argued that some current right-wing parties' stances and actions conflict with his worldview. He specifically criticized instances of racism, nationalist violence, and attempts to undermine law enforcement in the name of strengthening governance. His sharpest criticism, however, was directed at the issue of Haredi conscription, which he believes has become a matter of national security and the country's future since October 7th. Hanegbi questioned how right-wing individuals can continue to support broad exemptions from military and civilian service while regular and reserve soldiers bear the security burden. He stated he cannot identify with parties that tolerate public calls for draft evasion, which he deems a threat to the nation's existence.

While acknowledging that past governments, including those he served in, failed to adequately address the conscription issue, Hanegbi insisted that the post-October 7th security reality necessitates fundamental change. He dedicated a significant portion of his piece to his long-standing relationship with Lieberman, recalling their time together at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and their subsequent collaboration in senior political and security roles. Hanegbi specifically referenced the period when he and Lieberman, then Defense Minister, served together on the Security Cabinet. He claimed Lieberman had warned about the threat from Hamas in Gaza at that time, but his concerns were not given sufficient weight in cabinet discussions. Hanegbi admitted that he, other cabinet members, and security leaders did not pay the necessary attention to these warnings.