24 Facts About Tzachi Hanegbi

Tzachi Hanegbi is an Israeli politician and national security expert serving as Israel's National Security Advisor.

Tzachi Hanegbi served as Minister of Justice, Minister of Internal Security, Minister of Intelligence and Nuclear Affairs, and Minister in the Prime Minister's office supervising Israel's intelligence agencies Mossad and Shin Bet.

Tzachi Hanegbi was responsible for overseeing Israel's Atomic Energy Agency and served as the minister in charge of Israel's strategic relationship and security dialogue with the United States.

Tzachi Hanegbi served as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and as the Chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and Majority Leader of the Knesset.

Tzachi Hanegbi was appointed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to serve as acting prime minister of Israel, from 10 to 17 September 2017, while the prime minister traveled abroad.

Tzachi Hanegbi lost his seat in the Knesset in the 2022 Israeli legislative election.

In January 2023, Tzachi Hanegbi was appointed head of the National Security Council.

Tzachi Hanegbi was born in Jerusalem to Geula Cohen, a prominent member of the 1940s underground group Lehi and later MK for Likud and Tehiya, and Emmanuel Tzachi Hanegbi, the Operations Officer for the Lehi.

Tzachi Hanegbi was on the 37th spot on the Likud list and first elected to the Knesset in the 1988 elections, and headed the Prime Minister's Bureau under Yitzhak Shamir.

Tzachi Hanegbi retained his seat in the 1992 and 1996 elections, and was initially appointed Minister of Health in Binyamin Netanyahu's government, becoming Minister of Justice in September 1996 and dropping the health portfolio in November that year.

Tzachi Hanegbi lost his ministerial portfolio after Ehud Barak won the 1999 elections, but returned to government when Ariel Sharon won the special election for PM in 2001.

Tzachi Hanegbi was appointed Minister of the Environment in March 2001, adding the Transportation portfolio to his duties later in the year.

When Sharon broke away to form Kadima in November 2005, Tzachi Hanegbi was appointed interim chairman of Likud.

From May 2006 until December 2010 Tzachi Hanegbi served as the Chairman of the Knesset's Security and Foreign Affairs Committee.

In July 2010, after a four-year trial for election bribery, fraud and breach of trust, Tzachi Hanegbi was cleared of all charges by a Jerusalem court.

The court ruled that selectively prosecuting Tzachi Hanegbi for what was a widespread and common practice was wrong and unfair.

Tzachi Hanegbi was urged by his legal team to appeal the perjury conviction to Israel's High court of Justice.

Former Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg who opposes Tzachi Hanegbi politically, has called for the firing of the prosecutor by the Attorney General.

Tzachi Hanegbi therefore suspended himself from the Knesset and from his position as Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, pending his legal appeal.

Tzachi Hanegbi resigned from Kadima and returned to Likud when Kadima decided to leave the short-lived unity government in July 2012.

Tzachi Hanegbi explained that he believed Kadima's decision to quit the unity government was irresponsible, and motivated by short-term political goals.

On 30 May 2016 Tzachi Hanegbi was appointed Minister without portfolio in the Fourth Netanyahu Cabinet, dealing with issues concerning defense and foreign affairs.

On 2 June 2016 Tzachi Hanegbi denied allegations that he intentionally wrote a report on Operation Protective Edge that cleared the Israeli government of all wrongdoing.

Tzachi Hanegbi was appointed Acting Minister of Communications in February 2017, a post he held until being replaced by Ayoob Kara in May.