Lapid Accuses Netanyahu of Inaction on October 7

Opposition leader Yair Lapid sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding his actions on October 7, the day of Hamas's attack. Lapid, who met with Netanyahu that afternoon, challenged the narrative promoted by Netanyahu's allies that the prime minister was not properly informed. "When they woke him up, what did he do?" Lapid asked, asserting that Netanyahu "barely functioned" and initiated no actions until 4:30 PM.

Lapid claimed that all military proposals were approved by Netanyahu without debate, stating, "Nothing came from him. No proposal, no move." He detailed that Netanyahu did not contact communities, deploy a brigade, issue orders, manage operations, suggest descending to the south, or order the evacuation of any settlement.

This criticism comes amidst a conspiracy theory about Sarah Netanyahu spreading misinformation about October 7. Lapid contrasted Netanyahu's alleged inaction with the prime minister's own statement that he would have "activated the Air Force, activated all of the IDF" if he had been woken up. Lapid questioned what Netanyahu actually activated, suggesting his only response was to say "yes, yes" to commanders' proposals while he found time to speak with the Dutch prime minister and discuss keeping Itamar Ben-Gvir in the government.

Lapid invited media outlets supporting Netanyahu to name a single operational move Netanyahu initiated after being alerted on October 7, beyond approving security leaders' directives for soldiers. Lapid vowed that his party would establish a state commission of inquiry within the first month of the next government, attributing Netanyahu's opposition to such an inquiry to his desire to hide documented evidence.