Meni Assayag Rejects Pressure to Soften Views Over Brother's Career

Israeli screenwriter and media personality Meni Assayag publicly condemned a message he received from a social media user allegedly affiliated with the Kaplan protest movement. The message urged Assayag to "reset" his political statements, warning that his outspoken right-wing views could harm his brother, comedian and actor Shalom Assayag's career. Meni Assayag, known for his criticism of protests against the government, interpreted the message as an attempt to silence him by threatening his brother's professional opportunities.

Assayag revealed that the political controversy had already affected his long-standing professional collaboration with Shalom, including their work on the successful series "The Eighties." He stated that he had ceased working with his brother due to pressures stemming from his political expressions but affirmed that Shalom would continue to succeed independently in theater, television, and film.

To highlight what he sees as a double standard, Assayag compared his situation to that of another well-known Israeli family, Orna and Evitar Banai, suggesting that Orna Banai does not face similar demands to moderate her views for her brother's sake. Assayag concluded by declaring his intention to persist in challenging his critics and not to soften his political stance despite the pressures.