Litzman Accuses Lapid of Rewriting Political History

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid is attempting to reframe the political narrative surrounding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but critics argue his version of events ignores years of opposition and attempts to oust Netanyahu. The Likud party released a video comparing political boycotts of Netanyahu to schoolyard bullying, a move that has drawn sharp reactions.

Lapid responded to the video on social media, dismissing Netanyahu's claim that he was forced into his current coalition with far-right figures like Itamar Ben-Gvir. Lapid asserted that Netanyahu never desired any other government configuration and that he himself had proposed forming a government without Ben-Gvir on October 7th, which Netanyahu allegedly refused. Lapid characterized Netanyahu's preferred government as one of "extreme draft evasion" with the ultra-Orthodox parties.

The article counters Lapid's claims by tracing his political history with Netanyahu, starting with Lapid's dismissal from a ministerial position in 2014. This event, the article suggests, marked the beginning of deep animosity and Lapid's commitment to removing Netanyahu from power. Despite multiple election cycles and opportunities, Lapid, along with other centrist and left-wing parties, failed to unseat Netanyahu.

Even when Lapid's former partner, Benny Gantz, eventually joined a government led by Netanyahu, Lapid himself refused to join, including a proposed emergency government after the October 7th attacks. The article posits that Lapid's strong anti-Netanyahu stance, fueled by personal animosity, prevented him from acting in the national interest or joining broader coalitions, even when opportunities arose. The piece concludes by questioning whether Netanyahu might again sideline the ultra-Orthodox parties for a wider government, as he did in 2013.