Liberman Spars With Interviewer, Criticizes Netanyahu Over Oct. 7

Avigdor Liberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the government during an interview on 103FM radio. The politician also engaged in a heated exchange with interviewer Nissim Mashal over the opposition's strategy.

Liberman drew a parallel between the October 7th attacks and the tragedy at Nahal Tzofit, where a school director received a prison sentence for his responsibilities. He argued that leadership accountability for the October 7th events must be legally and publicly assessed, stating that poll results favoring Netanyahu do not absolve him of responsibility. Liberman also called for an examination of decision-making processes before and after October 7th, including issues related to Qatar and funding for Gaza.

Regarding the opposition's strategy, Liberman rejected the idea of uniting behind a single prime ministerial candidate before elections. He believes this could cost the bloc votes, citing past experiences where individual parties maximized their electoral potential. Liberman stated his primary goal is to secure the highest possible result for the entire opposition bloc, with the prime ministerial question to be resolved after the elections.

Liberman also dismissed the possibility of a "unity government" as a viable political option, though he confirmed regular meetings with opposition figures like Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid. He commented on Ofir Winter, expressing hope that he would act in the state's interest.

In a strong closing statement, Liberman condemned the creators of the film "Naz," calling it a "blood libel" and accusing them of spreading negative material about the IDF and Israel. He criticized state institutions for failing to counter hostile narratives and expressed his expectation of criminal charges against the filmmakers, referencing his own experience as defense minister where operations were sometimes canceled due to civilian risk.