Netanyahu, defense minister defend IDF chief after criticism by Likud MK

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, and opposition party heads slam Likud MK David Bitan for his harsh criticism of IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Eisenkot over what he called the army’s “weak” policy in Gaza.

“The chief of staff is doing a great job. It’s important for me to say this here. We work together and he is doing a great job,” says Netanyahu at the Likud faction meeting.

“Bitan’s words are intolerable and unacceptable,” says Liberman at his weekly Yisrael Beytenu faction meeting. “You can agree or disagree but for politicians to attack the chief of staff is completely unacceptable.”

Yesh Atid’s Yair Lapid calls on Netanyahu to “publicly denounce Bitan’s disgraceful attack on the chief of staff.”

Zionist Union chair Avi Gabbay says that “Netanyahu is the only one responsible. He is the one who is scared to make decisions for years. The security failure is on his shoulders.”

— Raoul Wootliff