Prime Minister Netanyahu stepped out of the Knesset plenum for a phone call described as 'sensitive diplomatic-security,' according to Israeli media. His associates said he would not have taken a helicopter from the south if he wanted to avoid a vote, dismissing speculation that he sought to miss a Knesset vote.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stepped out of the Knesset plenum on Tuesday evening for a phone call described as "sensitive diplomatic-security," according to Hebrew media. The initial report, from Amit Segal of N12 at 18:29 Jerusalem, stated that he left the chamber for a call. Associates immediately dismissed speculation that the exit was an attempt to avoid a vote, arguing that he had arrived from the south by helicopter—a move they said would not have been necessary if he intended to evade the session. This latest justification provides a more specific rebuttal than earlier denials.
The report first emerged at 18:29 Jerusalem from N12. Within the same hour, associates denied vote-avoidance, as reflected in The Zioneer's bulletin at 18:38 Jerusalem. The associates' denial has now evolved to include the helicopter argument, which emerged later in the evening as a specific counter to claims of intent.
As The Zioneer reported on Monday, Likud MKs received calls from Netanyahu's associates urging them to drop out of party primaries, indicating ongoing political maneuvering. The characterization of the call as "sensitive diplomatic-security" aligns with a pattern of high-stakes communications, including past calls with U.S. President Trump and discussions regarding southern Lebanon, as previously covered by The Zioneer.
The identity of the other party on the call and the specific subject matter have not been disclosed. The associates' claim regarding the helicopter has not been independently verified. It remains unclear whether the call was related to the ongoing regional negotiations or another matter.
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Source and signal
- Internal intake