Netanyahu Aides Censor Questions, Student Union Chairwoman Cancels Interview

A planned interview with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was dramatically canceled late Tuesday night after his advisors reportedly censored questions prepared by the Chairwoman of the Tel Aviv University Student Union, Gal Shinoter. Shinoter arrived at the Likud party's election headquarters for the interview and was made to wait for about an hour and a half. When she presented her list of questions to Netanyahu's advisors, including Topaz Luk and campaign manager Zvika Brot, they actively deleted some of them, according to a report in the newspaper "Haaretz." The advisors stated that questions concerning responsibility for the October 7th massacre, the establishment of a state inquiry commission, reservists, and the advancement of the judicial reform were "not currently serving the campaign." Questions deemed unacceptable included those about funding institutions lacking core subjects and criticism of Tel Aviv University from right-wing elements. The advisors suggested a softened alternative wording for a question regarding the stigma against the university. Shinoter also discovered that, contrary to prior agreements, she would not be allowed to independently record the interview. In response to these conditions, Shinoter refused to proceed with the interview and left the premises.

The Likud party issued a statement claiming the report was inaccurate, asserting that the interview never took place due to scheduling conflicts arising at 1:30 AM and would be rescheduled. The Tel Aviv University Student Union responded that their participation was conditional on complete freedom to ask any question and the ability to record independently. As no agreement was reached on these terms and restrictions were imposed on the questions, Shinoter decided not to participate in the recording.