Likud Accuses Opposition of Spreading Fake News to Gain Votes Over Saudi Nuclear Deal

Following U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement conditioning American approval of Saudi Arabia's civilian nuclear program on Riyadh joining the Abraham Accords and establishing full diplomatic relations with Israel, senior Likud officials praised the move as a major strategic diplomatic achievement for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. They highlighted that Netanyahu successfully turned Saudi Arabia's nuclear ambitions into leverage for expanding regional peace while safeguarding Israel's security interests.

In response, Likud sharply criticized opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz, accusing them of "national irresponsibility" for prematurely attacking Netanyahu and labeling the deal a diplomatic failure before all facts were known. A senior Likud source claimed the opposition's early condemnation was politically motivated, aimed at weakening Israel's negotiating position to gain electoral support. Likud accused Lapid and Gantz of spreading fake news and unnecessary public fear, contrasting this with Netanyahu's quiet and prudent diplomacy.

Likud emphasized that linking Saudi Arabia's civilian nuclear development to normalization with Israel represents the best possible outcome for Israel, describing it as a transformative shift in the Middle East. The party framed the deal as a diplomatic victory comparable to Netanyahu's past achievements, securing Saudi Arabia's integration into the moderate states' axis under the Abraham Accords umbrella.

The controversy reflects deep political divisions in Israel over the peace process and regional security, with the opposition skeptical of the deal's benefits and timing. The debate is likely to continue as the implications of the U.S.-Saudi-Israel arrangement unfold.