Former prime minister Yair Lapid claimed Monday that Gantz's alliance-building is designed to help Benjamin Netanyahu. Gantz responded sharply that Lapid has no place in public life, citing Lapid's behavior on October 7 — according to Israeli media reports.
The sharp exchange between two of Israel's most prominent opposition figures escalated Monday evening. Earlier in the day, Lapid accused Gantz of forging alliances with other political figures in order to help Prime Minister Netanyahu remain in power. Gantz's Blue and White party responded with a detailed statement, claiming Lapid made political calculations during the Hamas attacks of October 7, while Israelis were under attack in the south — and declared that Lapid has no place in public life. Gantz vowed to build a 'People of Israel bloc' instead. The exchange marks a further deepening of the rift within the opposition, with both leaders positioning themselves for a potential future contest. No further details have been released by either camp as of Monday evening.
2 developments
- DevelopingCritic slams Lapid for attacking government instead of confronting anti-Israel narratives
- DevelopingGantz, Liberman, Lapid slam Netanyahu's handling of reported US-Iran deal in faction meetings
- DevelopingLapid says Netanyahu trying to set up satellite parties to steal votes from the opposition bloc
- DevelopingGantz tells Netanyahu: if it's up to you, a government with Haredim and extremists will form
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- Internal intake