Feiglin to Recommend Netanyahu Unconditionally, Demands Policy Shift

Moshe Feiglin, chairman of the Zehut Party, has sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating that he missed a crucial opportunity for fundamental change following the October 7th Hamas attack. Despite his criticisms, Feiglin pledged that his party would recommend Netanyahu for prime minister without conditions, but insisted on a significant policy shift if Zehut joins the next coalition government. Feiglin argued that while Netanyahu achieved military successes, he failed to implement the necessary political and strategic changes after October 7th, asserting that the core issue is changing direction away from the policies that led to the attack.

Feiglin attributed the main responsibility for the political approach that led to the disaster to the left and the Oslo Accords, but also held Netanyahu accountable for not altering the political framework established by those accords during his tenure. He claimed that Netanyahu missed an opportunity in 1996 to cancel the Oslo Accords, instead choosing to continue operating within their framework. Feiglin believes that Israel had a brief window of international legitimacy for broad military and political action immediately after the October 7th massacre, but this opportunity was squandered by indecision.

Feiglin proposed that the alternative policy should have been the occupation of Gaza, expulsion of its population, and renewed Jewish settlement. He acknowledged clear tactical and micro-strategic achievements during the war, such as neutralizing Hamas operatives and air force actions, but maintained these were not accompanied by a conceptual shift. He stated that the geopolitical space created by the left through the Oslo Accords remained unchanged, leading back to the situation that resulted in the October 7th attack.

Despite his strong words, Feiglin will not refrain from recommending Netanyahu, explaining that not doing so could allow Gadi Eisenkot to receive the mandate to form a government first, a scenario he wishes to prevent. He emphasized that Zehut would not allow a future government led by Netanyahu to continue the same policies that preceded October 7th. Feiglin also rejected any potential cooperation with Avigdor Lieberman, citing Lieberman's role in forming a previous government with the Islamist Ra'am party, though he acknowledged Lieberman's intelligence and occasional sound strategic analyses.

Regarding the political alliance between Zehut and Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionism party, Feiglin credited Yonatan Koenitz, head of the Karnei Shomron Local Council, for facilitating the union, stating he had no direct contact with Netanyahu about it. He clarified that despite a joint electoral list, they remain separate parties with distinct campaigns and target audiences, though personal relations with Smotrich are warm.