Veteran Likud Politician Tzachi Hanegbi Declares He Won't Vote for Netanyahu
Translated & summarized from Kipa by baba
Former National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi announced he will not vote for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party in the upcoming Knesset elections. Hanegbi revealed in an article that he plans to vote for Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu party instead. He cited disagreements with the current right-wing direction, particularly regarding nationalist crime and Haredi conscription, stating he is not a "messianic" or "racist" right-winger. This marks the first time Hanegbi will not vote for a party he or his family is affiliated with.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Tzachi Hanegbi, former National Security Advisor, will not vote for Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party.
- Hanegbi announced his intention to vote for Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu party.
- This is the first time Hanegbi will not vote for a party he or his mother, Guela Cohen, was affiliated with.
- Hanegbi criticized the right-wing's stance on nationalist crime and Haredi conscription.
- He stated he is not a "messianic" or "racist" right-winger.
- Hanegbi praised Lieberman's past warnings about Hamas and his security positions.
Just one week before the Knesset elections, former National Security Advisor and veteran Likud party member Tzachi Hanegbi has announced a significant political move: he will not vote for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's party in the upcoming elections. In an article published Tuesday in "Yedioth Ahronoth," Hanegbi revealed his intention to vote for Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman.
This marks the first time since he began voting in 1977 that Hanegbi will not cast his ballot for a party he himself, or his mother, the late Guela Cohen, was running in. Hanegbi, who served as National Security Advisor under Netanyahu, including during the October 7th attack, sharply criticized the current direction of the Israeli right. He specifically cited concerns over nationalist crime and the issue of Haredi conscription.
"I am not a messianic right. And I am not a racist right," Hanegbi wrote, stating he cannot accept the support of right-wing parties for mass exemptions from military service. He declared that as long as these parties remain silent on their partners' opposition to conscription, he does not see his place among them.
Hanegbi explained his choice of Lieberman, with whom he has worked for decades in the Knesset and government. He noted Lieberman was among the few who warned of the threat posed by Hamas, though these warnings were not given sufficient weight in cabinet discussions. Hanegbi admitted that he and other cabinet members also failed to adequately heed these warnings.
He expressed appreciation for Lieberman's stances on security, conscription, and the justice system, identifying him as a right-wing leader capable of strengthening Israel's security.
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