Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hit back Saturday evening at former minister Gadi Eisenkot's warning that Lebanon is a political graveyard, saying Eisenkot counseled against entering Rafah and exiting Gaza — which would have produced 'zero' security gains — and that Netanyahu pushed ahead into Lebanon, Syria, and Iran because it was necessary for Israel's security. The exchange widens a public rift within the security establishment over the scope of military operations.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu escalated his personal attack on former minister Gadi Eisenkot on Saturday evening, going further than his initial response hours earlier by naming specific operations — Rafah, Lebanon, Syria, Iran — as evidence of his security leadership. Netanyahu said Eisenkot had advised against entering Rafah and urged a full withdrawal from Gaza, a course he claimed would have produced 'zero' security gains.
At 21:09 Jerusalem, the first bulletin reported Netanyahu's earlier retort — 'If we need to enter Lebanon, we will — who cares if it's a political grave?' — based on a quote by journalist Amit Segal (N12). That response came after Eisenkot's warning on Friday that 'Lebanon is a political graveyard for Israeli PMs from Begin to Netanyahu.' By 21:18, Israel Hayom published a more detailed statement in which Netanyahu enumerated the four theaters and explicitly accused Eisenkot of advocating inaction.
The Zioneer reported on Friday that Eisenkot had framed Lebanon as a political graveyard. Over the past week, Eisenkot has repeatedly criticized the government's management of the multi-front conflict, particularly the northern front, and has publicly challenged Netanyahu to a debate. Netanyahu's earlier attacks on Eisenkot have also included claims that Eisenkot would not have authorized a strike on Iran, as The Zioneer reported on June 16.
Israel Hayom is the sole source for Saturday night's expanded remarks. No official transcript or video of Netanyahu's full statement has been released. It remains unclear whether Eisenkot's alleged advice on Rafah and Gaza reflected a formal position or verbal counsel, and the precise military timeline — which operations preceded which — is part of an ongoing political dispute.
2 developments
- DevelopingEisenkot: 'Lebanon is a political grave for Israeli PMs from Begin to Netanyahu'
- DevelopingEisenkot: Netanyahu broke 80-year security doctrine by seeking US approval for operations
- DevelopingNetanyahu attacks Gantz: 'He would not have struck Iran'
- ConfirmedNetanyahu details Lebanon security-zone framework; warns Iran against attack
Source and signal
- Internal intake