Israeli actress Chelli Goldenberg stunned the internet after declaring she was 'no longer proud to be Israeli' during a television interview, only to discover that her comments were being broadcast live. The veteran actress believed the cameras were off, but her candid criticism of Israel's treatment of Palestinians had already reached viewers.
Goldenberg was discussing the country's political situation when she spoke about the Israeli occupation, settlement activity and what she believed had gone wrong with her homeland. Her reaction after realising she was still on air made the exchange even more uncomfortable, although she later returned to apologise for the intensity of her remarks.
Actress Criticises Israel in TV Interview
Goldenberg appeared on Israeli broadcaster Channel 13's morning programme, where the conversation turned towards her feelings about Israel and its treatment of Palestinians. Asked about her national identity and whether she still felt proud of her country, she gave an unexpectedly blunt response.
'I want to be, but I no longer feel proud to be Israeli', she said, explaining that she was disappointed with what Israelis had become. She also reflected on the occupation following the 1967 Six-Day War, saying it had contributed to the situation unfolding in the country today.
'The occupation brought everything that followed. Everything happening now is a consequence of the occupation', Goldenberg said.
She went on to criticise the growing influence of religion, settlement activity, Jewish terrorism and what she described as Israeli arrogance. Her comments prompted a disagreement with the presenters, who challenged her views by bringing up Israelis killed in violent attacks.
Veteran Israeli actress says she's 'NO LONGER PROUD TO BE ISRAELI' — then realizes she’s LIVE ON AIR and recoils in SHOCK
— RT (@RT_com) October 29, 2026
Chelli Goldenberg ends the interview, blames the hosts for not flagging that they were live and later returns to APOLOGIZE for her remarks pic.twitter.com/d8fDOXuije
Interview Takes Unexpected Turn
Things took an awkward turn when Goldenberg realised the conversation was being broadcast live. 'We were on air during that conversation?' she asked. When the host confirmed they were, she replied: 'That's not okay. You didn't tell us we were back on air... I thought we were on a commercial break'. She then announced she was leaving, saying she was 'really in shock'.
According to Israel National News, Goldenberg subsequently addressed viewers and apologised for the intensity of her comments. She explained that she could be passionate and impulsive when discussing the subject, suggesting that her words had come across more harshly than she intended.
Who Is Chelli Goldenberg?
Goldenberg is an Israeli actress and former model who has been part of the country's entertainment industry for decades. Born in 1954, she began her career in modelling before moving into acting and becoming a familiar face in Israeli cinema.
One of her notable early appearances was in the 1978 Israeli film Ha-Lahaka, also known as The Troupe. She went on to establish herself as a recognised figure in the country's cultural scene, with a career spanning several decades.
Her appearance at the 78th Cannes Film Festival in 2025 also reflected her continued connection to the film industry. However, her latest television appearance has attracted attention for something quite different, with her political comments placing her at the centre of an international conversation.
Why Israel Is Facing Global Backlash
Goldenberg's remarks come amid the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It centres on disputes over territory, security, settlements, Palestinian statehood and Jerusalem.
On 7 October 2023, Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people in Israel and took 251 hostages. Israel responded with a military campaign in Gaza, causing widespread destruction, mass displacement and tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths.
Israel faces accusations of genocide over its operations in Gaza. In September 2025, a UN commission concluded that genocide had occurred, but Israel rejected the accusation.
