Netanyahu's Son Slams National Unity Leader Amid Unity Calls

Yair Netanyahu, son of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, launched a scathing personal attack on Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the National Unity party, on Tuesday. While his father publicly calls for national unity, Yair Netanyahu derided Eisenkot on social media platform X, calling him a "puppet on a string of the strongest and darkest elements in the country and the world." He further claimed that "Israel will not survive him" and suggested that Iranians, Palestinians, and Arab nations are celebrating.

The National Unity party responded sharply to the criticism from both Yair and Benjamin Netanyahu, suggesting the Likud party's "message sheet" had not yet reached Miami. They characterized Yair Netanyahu's remarks as an "ugly and vulgar outburst" and accused the Likud of hypocrisy, stating that while the elder Netanyahu speaks of unity, his son "the draft dodger and exile" curses them.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously released a video appealing for a unity government that would include all "national camp" parties, including the ultra-Orthodox parties, amidst ongoing negotiations between United Torah Judaism and the "change bloc." He expressed willingness to engage in dialogue with any party interested in forming such a government. However, Netanyahu insisted that his party, the Likud, should naturally lead any unity government, citing its significant electoral victory, and did not mention any possibility of a rotation in the prime minister's seat. Eisenkot, for his part, has not indicated any intention to accept the Prime Minister's calls for unity.