Deri says opposition critiquing war for ‘short-term political gain,’ hails ‘immense achievements’

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri slams the opposition for criticizing the government in the wake of the United States’ announcement of a ceasefire with Iran, accusing it of harming the state in pursuit of political goals.

“It is unfortunate to see former prime ministers, defense ministers and chiefs of staff working against the state to achieve short-term political gain,” Deri says — calling it clear that the war had yielded “immense achievements alongside our American allies” and arguing that “anyone acting to create a false impression of defeat proves that politics matters more to them than patriotism.”

In a press conference earlier this evening, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid called the war with Iran a “diplomatic disaster on a scale I do not recall ever seeing.”

Meanwhile, Culture and Sports minister Miki Zohar (Likud) calls on Israel to “go all the way in Lebanon” and not be deterred by Iranian threats — arguing that “terrorism is defeated with strength” and “not through negotiations.”