Netanyahu and Right-Wing Parties Attack Eisenkot Over Gaza Plan
Translated & summarized from JDN by baba
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and right-wing parties attacked Gadi Eisenkot on Thursday over his pledge to end Hamas rule in Gaza within 18 months if elected. Netanyahu accused Eisenkot of planning a left-wing government with Arab parties, while Eisenkot's party blamed Netanyahu for strengthening Hamas. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also criticized Eisenkot's past positions, claiming his influence led to failures. The "Am Israel" party further attacked Eisenkot's leadership and proposed alternative policies.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Prime Minister Netanyahu accused Gadi Eisenkot of planning a left-wing government with Arab parties.
- Gadi Eisenkot pledged to end Hamas rule in Gaza within 18 months if elected.
- The Likud party questioned Eisenkot's ability to dismantle Hamas without Arab party support.
- National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir criticized Eisenkot's past positions on the war.
- Eisenkot's party blamed Netanyahu for strengthening Hamas and failing to prevent October 7th.
- The "Am Israel" party called Eisenkot the "Chief of Staff of the Conception."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Likud party, and other right-wing factions on Thursday sharply criticized Gadi Eisenkot, a candidate for prime minister, following his commitment to end Hamas rule in Gaza within 18 months if elected. Netanyahu accused Eisenkot of attempting to conceal plans for a left-wing government that would include Avigdor Lieberman, Yair Golan, and Arab parties. The Likud party questioned Eisenkot's ability to dismantle Hamas without the approval of his potential partners, Mansour Abbas and Ahmad Tibi. Eisenkot's party, "Yes! With Eisenkot," retorted that Netanyahu and the Likud have misled Israelis for 17 years and strengthened Hamas, suggesting that a focus on their mission instead of messaging could have prevented the October 7th massacre. They concluded by stating, "In 12 days, you are going home."
The exchange followed a security briefing by Eisenkot near the Gaza border, where he pledged to end Hamas's reign through a plan similar to one proposed by former President Trump or by military action. Eisenkot argued that the current government is failing to translate battlefield successes into strategic gains, asserting that "as long as Benjamin Netanyahu is in power, Hamas will remain in power."
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also attacked Eisenkot, contrasting his current promises with his past positions as a cabinet member. Ben-Gvir claimed Eisenkot previously advocated for halting the war, a full withdrawal from Gaza, releasing all prisoners, and opposed entering Rafah or occupying a security zone in Lebanon. Ben-Gvir stated that achievements in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran only occurred after Eisenkot left the government. He further alleged that Eisenkot's current pledge to conquer Gaza is politically dependent on Ahmad Tibi and Mansour Abbas.
The "Am Israel" party also criticized Eisenkot, calling him the "Chief of Staff of the Conception" and accusing him of pushing for policies of containment and regulation, and of calling to stop the war before entering Rafah. The party also criticized Eisenkot's appointments of Yair Golan, Aharon Haliva, and Herzi Halevi, claiming their ideologies contributed to the failures leading to the October 7th massacre. "There will be no victory in a government of Gadi Eisenkot and Yair Golan," the party declared, adding that they would appoint Yair Winter as defense minister and Yosef Haddad as information minister, and promote the voluntary emigration of Gazans.
Mentioned
