Lapid Criticizes Netanyahu Minutes After Security Briefing, Sparking Political Row

Opposition leader Yair Lapid issued a statement criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu just two minutes after receiving a security briefing from him, according to the Likud party. The briefing reportedly included warnings of potential attacks on various fronts. The Likud claims that instead of engaging in a substantive discussion of the presented intelligence, Lapid immediately steered the issue back into the election campaign, specifically linking it to the contentious issue of Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) conscription.

The article suggests that while suspicion regarding a prime minister's motives before an election is understandable, leaders are expected to act with seriousness when national security is concerned. It criticizes Lapid for not waiting even a short period after the meeting to appear to have seriously considered the new information, implying his actions were purely political.

The author posits that Lapid's supporters will invariably back his stance against Netanyahu, regardless of the issue or timing, suggesting a pattern of behavior rather than a substantive debate. The piece also touches upon the alleged attempt by Lapid and Naftali Bennett to steer the security update towards the Haredi conscription issue even before the meeting with Netanyahu, a move the author views as politically motivated and hypocritical given their past actions on the matter.

Ultimately, the article frames the situation as detrimental to Israel, suggesting that enemies of the state, from Hezbollah to Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, desire Netanyahu's downfall. It highlights the unprecedented public statements from the Joint List, which historically opposed Israeli governments, now openly stating their willingness to do anything to remove Netanyahu, even as a transitional prime minister, indicating their belief that other potential leaders would be more compliant with their agendas.