Netanyahu’s party scorns opposition chiefs’ criticism of Gallant’s firing

By Sam Sokol 6 November 2024, 1:38 pm

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Sam Sokol is a former political correspondent at The Times of Israel. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"

(L-R) The Democrats party head Yair Golan, National Unity party head Benny Gantz, Yisrael Beytenu party Avigdor Liberman (standing) and Yesh Atid party head and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid hold a joint press conference at the Knesset in Jerusalem on November 6, 2024. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Hitting back at criticism of Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to fire Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, the prime minister’s Likud party launches a withering attack on the opposition, without addressing any of the arguments made by the four opposition party chiefs today.

“When the left led by [Yair] Golan, [Yair] Lapid and [Benny] Gantz together with [Avigdor] Liberman stands by Gallant’s side, that says everything,” a party spokesman says in a statement, following a joint press conference by the heads of the Yesh Atid, National Unity, Yisrael Beytenu and The Democrats parties.

“Just two years ago, the four of them formed a government together with the Muslim Brotherhood party” — a reference to the Islamist Ra’am party — “and made a surrender agreement with Hezbollah — and they still dare to talk about security?” he asks.

“Just a few months ago, Liberman mocked Gallant and said that ‘we don’t have a defense minister, we have a threats minister.’ And two months ago, Gantz stated that Gallant must resign,” the spokesman continues.

“Prime Minister Netanyahu, together with new Defense Minister Israel Katz, will lead Israel to complete victory. They will continue to complain, and we will continue to win.”