Lapid slams PM’s alleged remarks on reservists: ‘He never stops blaming others’

Carrie Keller-Lynn is a former political and legal correspondent for The Times of Israel

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid speaks at the Knesset on October 26, 2023 (Carrie Keller-Lynn/Times of Israel)
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid speaks at the Knesset on October 26, 2023 (Carrie Keller-Lynn/Times of Israel)

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid slams Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for deflecting blame for Israel’s failure to prevent Hamas’s October 7 attack, after the premier reportedly suggested protests by reserve soldiers against his coalition earlier this year may have been a factor in the terror group’s decision to launch its brutal assault.

“Every time he does the same thing: tweets and then deletes, says it and then denies it. That’s his method,” Lapid says at the outset of his Yesh Atid party’s Knesset faction meeting.

“Except this time it won’t work for him. I am telling Netanyahu, we will not let you conduct this one-sided discussion.”

The Yesh Atid head says that his party had not intended to play the blame game during wartime.

“While we remain silent, Netanyahu takes advantage of our silence and never stops blaming others for his failures,” Lapid says.

Directing remarks towards the premier, Lapid adds: “Stop this. Instead of slandering our best fighters and civilians by night, focus on what matters: returning the hostages, defeating Hamas [and] improving the shameful performance of your government on behalf of the citizens of Israel.”

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