“I no longer feel proud to be Israeli", says 'Israeli' actress Hili Goldenberg

• Chelli Goldenberg criticized the occupation, settlement activity and what she described as Jewish terrorism during a live Channel 13 interview.
• She mistakenly believed the cameras were off, later expressed shock upon discovering she was live and apologized for the intensity of her remarks.

Veteran 'Israeli' actress Chelli Goldenberg has sparked attention after openly criticizing the occupation and government policies during a television interview, saying she no longer feels proud to be 'Israeli' and blaming the occupation for developments in 'Israel'.

Goldenberg made the remarks on October 26 during an appearance on Channel 13's morning program Opening the Day, hosted by Elad Zohar and Yarden Harel. The interview initially focused on her acting career before turning to the political situation.

"We are occupiers. Yes, the occupation. Everything happening now is a consequence of the occupation," Goldenberg said.

When asked what developments she was referring to, she pointed to what she described as growing religious coercion, settlement activity, Jewish terrorism and arrogance.

During the discussion, Goldenberg referred to the 1967 war and the subsequent occupation, saying it took her generation years to recognize what she called the "sin of the occupation".

She also drew a comparison with apartheid-era South Africa and referred to the bombing of the King David Hotel by members of the Irgun, a Zionist paramilitary organization during the British Mandate.

"Zionist forces" are not the only historical reference in her remarks. Goldenberg argued that minorities have a right to fight for their freedom, prompting presenter Zohar to challenge her comparison and stress that attacks on civilians could not be justified.

The actress also spoke about her personal involvement in volunteer work in communities near the Gaza Strip following October 7, 2023.

She said she had spent nearly two years helping clean damaged homes in Nir Oz, Nahal Oz and Be'eri, including houses where bodies and traces of violence had been found.

Describing herself as a patriot who loves her country, she compared her feelings to watching a child grow into someone whose actions contradict the values they were raised with. 

The exchange took an unexpected turn when the presenters attempted to steer the conversation back towards her acting career.

Goldenberg suddenly asked whether they had been broadcasting live. After the presenters confirmed that the cameras were on, she expressed shock and accused them of failing to tell her that the program had returned from its commercial break.

"I thought we were having an off-air conversation. I didn't know we were broadcasting," she said.

She added that she had specifically told the presenters she did not want to discuss her volunteer work in communities near Gaza, believing the cameras were off.

Goldenberg became visibly distressed and said she did not know how to handle the situation. The program then went to a commercial break.

At the end of the interview, Goldenberg returned to address viewers and apologize for the intensity and tone of her comments.

"I'm a very impulsive person, with tremendous passion when I speak. I'm all fire and flames. I didn't know we were on the air," she said.

She described her remarks as more extreme and sharp than she would normally express, adding that the level of drama and sarcasm had been excessive.

She also asked the presenters to make it clearer when cameras were broadcasting, saying she had not noticed the red light indicating that the cameras were live.