Netanyahu Expected to Break Channel 12 Boycott Ahead of Israel Vote
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly preparing to break a long-standing boycott of Channel 12 studios for a pre-election prime-time television interview.
Unprecedented security measures were reported on Thursday at the Neve Ilan communications center amid growing expectations that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to break a long-standing boycott and appear for an interview in the Channel 12 studios. This development comes just days before the opening of the polling stations and shortly after Netanyahu hinted at the possibility during an interview with Channel 14.
A Decade-Long Absence from Mainstream Studios
If Netanyahu indeed faces the cameras in Neve Ilan, it would mark an extraordinary media and political event. The last full interview he granted to Channel 12 studios took place more than five and a half years ago, on March 20, 2021, when he appeared on "Meet the Press." Since that time, Netanyahu instituted a strict interview boycott against the main commercial broadcasting studios.
"Let's leave it open," Netanyahu stated when asked if he would appear on mainstream television channels.
Contrasting Strategies: Domestic and International
In stark contrast to his avoidance of domestic broadcast journalism, Netanyahu has maintained an intensive interview campaign on the international stage. Throughout the ongoing war, the Prime Minister has granted dozens of interviews to leading foreign networks in the United States and Europe, drawing sharp domestic criticism for bypassing Hebrew-language outlets.
This operational pattern is well-known from previous election cycles. In the decisive days before voting opens, when polls are tight, the necessity to reach undecided voters during prime time ultimately supersedes any political boycott.
