'I felt like a groom at a wedding, he is in Ben-Gurion's league': Avi Shoshan on his interview with the Prime Minister

Journalist Avi Shoshan was interviewed on Thursday on 103FM, where he discussed the interview he conducted as part of his podcast 'One on One' with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. During the session, he asked the Prime Minister about his children, including his daughter Noa, as well as his wife, Sara. Shoshan shared his impressions of the experience and responded to critics who labeled the interview as 'sycophantic'.

Shoshan admitted he was deeply moved by the event: 'I felt like a groom at a wedding.' Regarding Netanyahu himself, he stated: 'Whether you love him or hate him, he is one of the greatest leaders of the Jewish people and the State of Israel; he belongs to the league of Ben-Gurion.' The host was privileged to interview Netanyahu for one hour and 45 minutes—a feat no other journalist has achieved to date.

'This is not something to be taken for granted. I had the privilege and honor to sit and talk with him about things that truly interest many people,' Shoshan noted. He explained that he had been working on the interview for two years, and a previous attempt had been canceled at the last minute. Upon receiving the confirmation, Shoshan, who was on vacation, immediately changed his flight to return to the country.

During the conversation, sensitive topics were addressed, including the relationship with his daughter Noa. 'There weren't many things he didn't want to talk about,' Shoshan explained. 'He preferred not to elaborate on certain topics, such as the changing of Avner and Yair's surnames.' The journalist emphasized that the Prime Minister's office had veto power but did not exercise it: 'The Prime Minister watched the podcast and liked the result very much.'

'I realized that it is very difficult for Netanyahu to enter the personal aspect,' Shoshan added. 'Think about it: this is a person who has been in the media for 20-30 years as Prime Minister, and all interviews with him are usually very political.' The host mentioned that he had planned for a 45-minute session, but the Prime Minister stayed for nearly two hours, showing a 'certain sense of release.' Shoshan concluded that he saw a complex and humane individual who was waiting for a platform where he could speak without facing a hostile environment.

Addressing the criticism regarding his compliments toward Sara Netanyahu, the journalist clarified that it was a reference to the show 'The Patriots': 'I am not a naive guy; I was a pretty good spokesperson. I knew how to ask questions in a way that included subtexts that many people simply didn't understand.'