Ex-Lawmaker Turned Netanyahu Ally Once Called Hamas Leader Smarter

Eli Goldschmidt, who recently secured a reserved spot on the Likud party list for the 2026 elections, had previously been a vocal critic of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, particularly regarding the government's handling of the October 7th attacks and the hostage crisis. Despite now appearing on pro-Netanyahu media channels, Goldschmidt, a former Knesset member for the Labor party, had sharply criticized the prime minister during the war.

He had accused Netanyahu of prioritizing personal ambition over security in rejecting hostage deals. Goldschmidt had also stated that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar had intellectually outmaneuvered Netanyahu, claiming Sinwar had "destroyed you in this war of minds" and used Netanyahu to build Hamas's infrastructure. Goldschmidt asserted that Netanyahu was self-centered, damaging his own ego at the expense of the hostages and their families.

Furthermore, Goldschmidt had blamed Netanyahu for what he perceived as attacks on the army and protesters. He questioned Netanyahu's character, contrasting the prime minister's focus on himself with the suffering of families whose loved ones were fighting in Gaza or held hostage.

However, Goldschmidt's rhetoric shifted dramatically just before his inclusion in the Likud list. Following a successful operation to capture a Hamas military intelligence chief in Khan Younis, Goldschmidt praised Netanyahu on Channel 14, urging "huge credit" for the prime minister's "risky decisions." He alluded to the courage required for such actions, stating, "I don't want to say which body part must be very large to do this."