Lieberman Accuses Netanyahu of Planning Military Action to Delay Elections

Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, has accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of potentially initiating a military operation to postpone upcoming elections, which are less than two weeks away. In an interview with 103FM, Lieberman alleged that Netanyahu is driven by self-preservation rather than security concerns, citing the Prime Minister's response to the October 7th attacks as evidence of his incompetence in wartime leadership. Lieberman specifically criticized Netanyahu's delayed response on the morning of October 7th, suggesting it allowed Hamas terrorists to operate freely and abduct hostages.

Lieberman further claimed that Netanyahu is aware of and fears information held by Yonatan Urich, a close advisor, which could be embarrassing to the Prime Minister. He suggested that Netanyahu's reluctance to distance himself from Urich, who has allegedly been involved in improving Hamas's image, stems from Urich knowing too much. Lieberman also referenced a written warning he personally delivered to Netanyahu in December 2016, detailing the exact scenario of the October 7th attacks, asserting that the Prime Minister cannot claim ignorance.

Additionally, Lieberman accused Netanyahu of prioritizing his own political survival over national security, pointing to the lack of condemnation from the Prime Minister and Defense Minister regarding a protest in Jerusalem where participants allegedly displayed signs calling the IDF the 'enemy army.' Lieberman expressed confidence that the opposition bloc will secure a majority in the upcoming elections, predicting a significant drop in the Likud party's mandate. He firmly stated he would not sit in a government led by Netanyahu but indicated openness to a coalition with the Likud under different leadership, suggesting he is in discussions with senior Likud members about this possibility.