Avigdor Lieberman Condemns Defense Minister Israel Katz Over Controversial Video and Political Tensions

Avigdor Lieberman sharply criticized Defense Minister Israel Katz following the release of a controversial video dubbed the "boom boom" clip, accusing Katz of harming both the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israel's international standing. Lieberman called for Katz's dismissal, stating the video undermines ongoing diplomatic efforts and damages the IDF's reputation. He accused Katz of prioritizing internal Likud primaries over national security.

Lieberman also condemned the political leadership for failing to support the IDF Chief of Staff, whom the government appointed, calling the lack of backing unprecedented. He stressed the importance of equal burden-sharing in the military, linking it to national victory and economic growth, and criticized the current government coalition for harming soldiers and threatening social benefits for draft dodgers.

Expanding his critique, Lieberman accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of deepening political and security failures, including a lack of engagement with Jordan and ongoing stalemates in Gaza despite three years of conflict. He highlighted the repeated political attacks on the IDF Chief of Staff as part of a troubling pattern.

On regional developments, Lieberman expressed concern over a new Sunni military alliance involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, warning Israel to carefully assess these shifts beyond official statements. He cited Pakistan's foreign minister's hostile rhetoric toward Israel and questioned the potential inclusion of Egypt in the alliance, framing these as failures of the current government.

Regarding the upcoming elections, Lieberman urged opposition parties to focus on their strengths, particularly encouraging Yair Golan to increase support within the Arab sector. He described Golan as a potential legitimate partner in a future Zionist government, while excluding the Ra'am party due to its sectarian nature. Lieberman emphasized the goal of replacing the current government formed after the October 7 attacks and warned against voting for small parties unlikely to pass the electoral threshold, which could weaken the opposition bloc.