Gadi Eisenkot blasts Netanyahu over reported election deal

Former military chief and leader of the Yeshar party, Gadi Eisenkot, launched a harsh attack on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday evening, following a joint ultimatum from Aryeh Deri and Moshe Gafni and reports of a political deal to set elections for October.

Eisenkot said Netanyahu was conducting what he called a “fire sale” of Israel’s national interests, accusing him of trading draft exemption laws and the “disintegration of Israeli society” for a more convenient election date that would help erase “the great failure” from public memory. He added, “The people will not forgive you for weakening the IDF during a full-scale war.”

Turning directly to the prime minister, Eisenkot said, “Netanyahu, it is over. You are not worthy of the heavy price this nation has paid.” He said “laws of lawlessness” would not pass, promised that a state commission of inquiry would be established, and said Israeli society would soon begin the process of recovery and repair it needs.

The same issue also prompted a separate sharp attack from Oded Forer, who said, “There is nothing lower and more despicable than this.”