Veteran Israeli actress Chelli Goldenberg was left shocked after making critical remarks about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and occupation during a live television interview, unaware the cameras were still rolling.
The veteran star appeared on Israel’s Channel 13 for an interview intended to focus on her lengthy career and contributions to the cultural sphere.
However, the conversation soon turned into a heated political debate, with Goldenberg openly expressing her disagreement with Israel and its occupation of the Palestinian territories.
“I really want to be able to feel happy about being Israeli again,” Goldenberg said, unaware that the conversation was still being broadcast live.
The interviewer then asked: “Has it really reached the point where you’re not happy to be Israeli?”
“I want to be, but I no longer feel proud to be Israeli,” Goldenberg replied.
When the interviewer warned such comments were “dangerous” to make on air, Goldenberg responded: “I’m not saying it on air. I’m saying it quietly.”
Still believing the cameras were off, the actress continued to speak candidly about her feelings towards her country.
“I’m not proud of who we are as a people. It’s a terrible feeling, because I’m from the generation that grew up during that period,” she said.
“I was born in 1954, and even after 1967 it took ten years to understand the sin of the occupation. It didn’t happen overnight.
“The occupation brought everything that followed. Everything happening now is a consequence of the occupation.”
Pressed to elaborate on what she believed was happening in Israel, Goldenberg pointed to what she described as “religious coercion, the settlers, Jewish terrorism, arrogance”.
“A minority has the right to fight for its freedom,” she added.
One of the interviewers challenged the remark, responding: “Not if it massacres civilians, our brothers and sisters, and our soldiers.”
Goldenberg went on to explain her criticism stemmed from a deep love for her country, rather than a lack of patriotism.
“I am a great patriot. I love this country. It’s like watching your child become something that makes you say, ‘This is not how I raised you’,” she said.
The interviewers appeared taken aback by her comments, with one remarking they were “hard to hear” first thing in the morning.
The shock of realising her comments were live
It was only then Goldenberg appeared to realise what she had believed was a private conversation was being broadcast to viewers.
Visibly shocked and distressed, she asked: “We were on air during that conversation? That’s not okay.”
Struggling to process what had happened, Goldenberg continued.
“I don’t want to, I don’t want to. I don’t know what to do with this now. I’m really in shock. You didn’t tell me we were on the air. I thought we were on a commercial break,” she said.
Later in the interview, Goldenberg addressed viewers directly and apologised for the way she had expressed herself.
The actress explained she had not realised the cameras were still broadcasting and acknowledged she had spoken more harshly than she might otherwise have intended.
“I’m a very impulsive person, with tremendous passion when I speak,” she said. “I’m all fire and flames. I didn’t know we were on the air.”
The actress’ outspoken criticism of Israel and the occupation sparked a strong reaction online. Some users condemned her remarks as “unpatriotic”, while others praised her for “speaking her truth”.
Goldenberg first rose to fame as a teenager through modelling before landing her breakout role in the 1978 Israeli film Ha-Lahaka (The Troupe). (7 News)