Liberman Warns Netanyahu May Use Shin Bet Against Political Rivals in Upcoming Elections

Avigdor Liberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, warned on July 18 that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might attempt to use the Shin Bet security service to target political opponents in the forthcoming elections. Speaking on the program "Meet the Press," Liberman urged Shin Bet employees to document any political requests they receive, emphasizing the importance of preventing the security agency's involvement in political affairs. He expressed concern over recent developments involving Shin Bet chief David Zini and criticized attempts to investigate Channel 12 and impose security decisions against professional recommendations.

Liberman also sharply criticized the current government, describing its recent legislative actions as "Taliban-style legislation," particularly condemning the gender segregation law in academia. He predicted these changes would be reversed by the next government. He accused a coalition of figures including Itzhak Goldknopf, Aryeh Deri, and Netanyahu of harming Israel's security more than external threats like Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis combined.

A significant portion of the interview focused on the Shas party and former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot. Liberman labeled Shas as "the most anti-Zionist party" and criticized Eizenkot for praising Aryeh Deri, attributing this to Eizenkot's lack of experience and knowledge. Liberman stated that the next prime minister would be one of three: himself, Naftali Bennett, or Gadi Eizenkot, and firmly ruled out joining any coalition that includes Goldknopf and Deri.

Regarding recent attacks by Deri against the IDF Chief of Staff, Liberman criticized Defense Minister Yoav Kitz and Netanyahu for not defending the military leader. He called for Kitz to condemn Deri's harsh rhetoric and warned that if the government remains beyond October 27, it might attempt to remove the Chief of Staff.

On the issue of military conscription, Liberman insisted on mandatory service for all Israeli citizens, including Jews, Muslims, and Druze, either in military or civilian frameworks. He rejected exemptions and criticized past committees for misleading the public. He also stated that educational institutions failing to teach core subjects would lose state funding.