Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has called for the immediate resignation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “during the ongoing conflict” and the formation of an alternative government.
He described the statements made by Netanyahu’s Likud party as “regrettable and disgraceful.”
Lapid made these comments in an interview with Israel’s Channel 12 on Wednesday, stating, “Netanyahu should step down now, during the fighting. Let’s sit down now under the leadership of another Likud candidate. We will talk to Likud leaders; there are many people there who understand that the country has gone to a bad place.”
This marks the first time Lapid has called for Netanyahu’s resignation since the start of the conflict on October 7th last year.
Netanyahu has led the Likud party since December 2022, heading a government composed of right-wing religious and nationalist parties in Israel.
“This government is not fulfilling its role, but going to elections now is not the right thing. We need change. Netanyahu cannot continue as Prime Minister,” Lapid continued.
“We cannot allow ourselves to manage a battle that will drag on, with a Prime Minister whom the public does not trust,” he emphasized.
Lapid stated, “I believe that, like any Israeli citizen, what matters to me in the end is the basic thing: having an effective government. I am ready to participate, my party is ready to participate in a government led by Likud.”
He added, “I propose that we form a government with Likud, with the ultra-Orthodox (Jews), and I have not said this before, and with (Israel Beitenu party leader Avigdor) Liberman and the official camp (led by Benny Gantz), a national reconstruction government.”
Netanyahu’s Likud party responded to Lapid’s statements in a brief statement, saying, “It is regrettable and disgraceful that Lapid is practicing politics during the war when he proposes the dismissal of a Prime Minister who is leading the battle and replacing him with a government that would establish a Palestinian state and allow the Palestinian Authority to control Gaza.”
Later, the “There is a Future” party led by Lapid responded in a statement, saying, “Likud seems to have made a mistake… Lapid proposed a government led by Likud, but not by Netanyahu. This is how we will start the national recovery.”
Netanyahu has refused to acknowledge responsibility for the attack launched by Hamas on Israeli settlements in southern Israel on October 7th, despite the acknowledgment of Israeli ministers and leaders of security and intelligence agencies of their failure to anticipate the attack.
On Monday, Israel’s Channel 13 reported that Israeli ministers and Knesset members from the Likud party were discussing the possibility of toppling party leader Netanyahu directly after the war, through a vote of no confidence.
On Monday, a poll published by the Israeli Walla website showed that 66% of Israelis largely support holding elections after the end of the Gaza war.