Liberman Accuses Netanyahu of Using Shin Bet Against Rivals, Sparking Political Firestorm

Avigdor Liberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, warned in an interview on "Meet the Press" that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might use the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) in the upcoming elections to target political opponents. This claim triggered sharp responses from coalition members, notably Minister Amichai Shikli, who launched a personal attack on Liberman. Shikli called Liberman "one of the most corrupt and twisted politicians the country has known," accusing him of political chaos and recalling his tenure as defense minister when he nearly eliminated Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar within 24 hours.

Shikli also criticized Liberman's allegations against the new Shin Bet chief, retired Major General David Zini, calling the accusations "absurd and severe" and questioned Liberman's moral standing by referencing former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, whom Shikli accused of using the agency for political purposes and spying on a government minister. Shikli urged Liberman to "remove the beam from his own eye" before judging others.

The Likud party also issued a strong rebuttal, describing Liberman's party as a dictatorship in contrast to Likud's democratic nature under Netanyahu. They accused Liberman of being unfamiliar with democracy and adopting left-wing tactics. Likud emphasized Netanyahu's proven commitment to respecting election processes and results, adding a pointed remark that if the Shin Bet were ever under Liberman's control, it would pose a real danger to Israeli citizens.

This political clash highlights the heightened tensions ahead of Israel's elections, with accusations flying over the potential misuse of security agencies for political gain. The controversy is likely to continue as the election campaign intensifies.