Lieberman Accuses Netanyahu of Being Deceived by Hamas Leader

Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of being "deceived like a small child" by Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Lieberman's remarks followed an interview with Soufian Abu Zaida, a former mediator between Israel and Hamas, who detailed how Sinwar allegedly misled Netanyahu regarding negotiations for the return of hostages.

Lieberman also blamed Netanyahu for the "Dubai flight fiasco" and called for the dismissal of the head of the Shin Bet. He asserted that warnings about Qatari money flowing to Hamas were ignored, citing a 2019 meeting between Netanyahu and former Shin Bet chief Nadav Argaman, where the Prime Minister allegedly instructed to continue the funding. Lieberman claimed that all these discussions are documented in cabinet meeting protocols.

Furthermore, Lieberman criticized the current government's approach to responsibility, drawing parallels to the Meron disaster and the October 7th attacks, stating that no one has taken accountability. He suggested that Netanyahu only claims credit for successes while evading responsibility for failures.

Regarding the future of Palestinian statehood, Lieberman presented his proposal to involve Jordanians in the West Bank as a measure to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state. He warned that if no action is taken, the United States will recognize a Palestinian state in all territories of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem within two and a half years, predicting that the US will lead this initiative and pass it in the UN.