Prominent Israelis Express Discontent with Netanyahu's Leadership
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
Minister Tzachi Hanegbi announced he will not vote for the Likud party, citing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership and refusal to form an inquiry committee post-October 7th. He is joined by several former ministers and Knesset members who have expressed similar discontent or resigned from the party. The article describes a climate of suppressed criticism within the Likud, where dissenters face personal attacks. It urges Likud members to vote for opposition parties to unseat the current government.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Minister Tzachi Hanegbi will not vote for Likud, criticizing PM Netanyahu's leadership.
- Several former ministers and Knesset members have also left or criticized the Likud.
- Criticism within the Likud is reportedly suppressed, leading to personal attacks.
- Former advisor Oren Helman stated the Likud is now Netanyahu's private enterprise.
- The article urges Likud members to vote for opposition parties.
Minister Tzachi Hanegbi revealed he would not vote for the Likud party, stating his departure from the party predates the October 7th attacks. He criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's refusal to establish an inquiry committee, his perceived neglect of bereaved families and displaced citizens, and the government's overall dysfunction. The author of the article agrees with Hanegbi's assessment, noting her own critical stance on Netanyahu's policies, particularly his alliance with Kahanist elements and the perceived erosion of Revisionist Zionist values.
Hanegbi and the article's author are not alone in their criticism. Former ministers Dan Meridor and Beni Begin, former Knesset Member Yuli Edelstein, and former Minister Gilad Erdan have also departed from the Likud or expressed dissent. Edelstein reportedly refused Netanyahu's directives regarding a conscription law, while Erdan was a victim of internal appointment disputes. Knesset Member Dan Illouz also refused to vote for the conscription bill, and former Minister Meir Sheetrit has resigned.
The article asserts that criticism within the Likud is suppressed, with dissenters facing personal attacks and being ostracized. It claims that any perceived slight against Netanyahu or his family leads to swift retaliation. The author notes that figures like the "new armored" Bardugo and the Likud spokesperson have already attacked Hanegbi and other former officials, suggesting a state of panic within the party.
Further examples of disillusionment include Oren Helman, a former political advisor to Netanyahu, who publicly criticized the Prime Minister's conduct. His response was reportedly forwarded to the chairman of the Likud's Central Election Committee, leading Helman to declare on X that the Likud has become a private enterprise solely controlled by Netanyahu. Additionally, Emanuel Vizer, a former judge on the Likud's court, resigned about a month and a half ago, as did Dudu Cohen, a Likud branch chairman for 15 years, and Ziv Dasah, a long-serving Likud head of the local council in Zichron Yaakov. The article concludes by urging Likud members to vote for alternative parties like Naftali Bennett, Gadi Eisenkot, or Avigdor Lieberman to remove the current government.
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