Ex-IDF Chief Eisenkot Claims Netanyahu Ignored Him After 2018 Jet Downing

Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the National Unity party, reiterated his claim that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not respond to him for hours after an F-16 fighter jet was shot down by Syrian anti-aircraft fire in 2018. Eisenkot made these remarks during a "Friday Culture" event in Rishon LeZion, stating that if Netanyahu wishes to clarify events, he could be asked to publish his schedule from that morning, a move he recently undertook. Eisenkot added that this was not the first instance of Netanyahu failing to communicate with the Chief of Staff during a security event.

Eisenkot first voiced this accusation earlier in the week at a Ynet and Yediot Ahronot conference. He asserted that the Prime Minister's lack of immediate response was a significant issue during a critical security incident. The former IDF chief of staff emphasized that Netanyahu's schedule from the day of the incident could provide clarity on the timeline of communication and decision-making.