From the Liveblog of
Monday, March 13, 2023
Lapid says Netanyahu weak, losing control of government, harming ties with US
Carrie Keller-Lynn is a former political and legal correspondent for The Times of Israel
Opposition leader Yair Lapid charges Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with having “lost control” of his government and country, amid widespread protests and fears for Israel’s ties with the US.
“The country is falling apart around him and he is unable to do anything,” Lapid says, in a statement opening his Yesh Atid party’s Knesset faction meeting.
Regarding foreign relations, Lapid says a rift is forming with Israel’s most important ally, as “the Americans simply refuse to help this government.”
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is being snubbed by US officials and civil society, during his ongoing trip to the States, while Netanyahu has not yet been invited to the White House, despite returning to power in late December.
Lapid says that Netanyahu has become “weak” and unable to control his coalition, members of which continue to push for judicial reform and “will dismantle his government if he tries to stop them.”
“A real prime minister – you know what, the prime minister Netanyahu used to be – would knock on the table, stop the regime coup, call for agreements among partners, and tell them, ‘it’s over,'” Lapid adds.
“But Netanyahu cannot. He is too weak. His speeches are still here, his suits are still here, but he’s incapacitated.”
