Opposition denounces Netanyahu as a failed prime minister

Opposition leaders condemn Netanyahu after a pair of press conferences, arguing his Gaza plan endangers hostages and misleads the public.

Opposition Denounces Netanyahu as a Failed Prime Minister Lying Brazenly

On Sunday, members of the Israeli opposition criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after two press conferences. Leader Yair Lapid called the event a horror show and said the Gaza City plan would endanger hostages, soldiers, the economy, and Israel’s international standing. He argued that Netanyahu does not have a Knesset majority and leads an illegitimate minority government, a description aimed at halting any move toward a Gaza occupation.

Netanyahu countered that the Gaza City operation is meant to end the war quickly, not occupy the territory. He spoke of a future civilian administration for Gaza and blamed former parliament speaker Yuli Edelstein for delaying enlistment legislation, saying a law would pass to push ultra-Orthodox enlistment. The cabinet had approved a major offensive in Gaza City days earlier, intensifying the clash with opposition voices over strategy and hostage safety. The coalition also saw political shifts as Haredi parties UTJ and Shas distanced themselves from the government, while Edelstein was replaced by Boaz Bismuth.

The exchange extended beyond Netanyahu and Lapid, touching on internal party disputes. Bennett criticized Deri’s call for yeshiva students to avoid military service, framing it as a wound to the army. Bennett later shared a video of Deri’s remarks to illustrate the rift within right wing politics, while Shas attacked Bennett’s stance. The discourse highlights a political landscape where security strategy, coalition stability, and public trust are all on the line.

This moment exposes a government that looks at home in a political theater rather than a policy room. The clash between Netanyahu and opposition leaders underscores how security choices in Gaza are entangled with coalition politics and the pressure to keep ultra-Orthodox allies satisfied. Public trust may waver as competing narratives frame the same moves as either decisive statecraft or dangerous misdirection. The episode also signals how internal party rifts can shape long term policy, not just immediate war aims.

Looking ahead, the fate of enlistment legislation, how hostage negotiations unfold, and the next moves in Gaza will test both leadership credibility and the resilience of Israel’s coalition. In a polarized climate, the lines drawn now could redraw political loyalties for years to come.

Highlights

The coming weeks will test political loyalties and public trust.