Netanyahu criticizes MKs and ministers who he claims are already campaigning for elections

Speaking at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired a shot across the bow of MKs and ministers who he insinuates are looking to improve their electoral prospects through public statements.

“We are in an election year,” said Netanyahu. “The elections will be held by the end of [next] year — we know that — and I assume it will be at the end of the year. But during this election year, we are witnessing a barrage of [campaigning], both from within Likud and from outside.”

Some interpreted his remarks as focused on Defense Minister Israel Katz, who regularly posts about top security and diplomatic issues, seeming to take credit for a tough Israeli line. Netanyahu did not single out any ministers by name.

Katz wrote on X this morning. “Israel’s policy is clear: A Palestinian state will not be established. The IDF will remain on Mount Hermon and in the security zone [in Syria]. Gaza will be demilitarized down to the last tunnel, and Hamas will be disarmed.”

Last week he wrote that he had ordered the IDF to destroy all tunnels in Gaza, and warned Hezbollah that it was “playing with fire” in Lebanon.

“The issues being discussed constantly in this barrage of tweets — which I don’t recall happening in the past about security matters — are all about: ‘I said, I did, I updated,’ including topics related to our national security,” said Netanyahu. “I remind you that these matters are determined in coordination with the prime minister, who is responsible for them.”