Netanyahu Warns of 'New Oslo Disaster' from Right-Wing Split

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that a split within the right-wing political bloc could lead to a "new Oslo disaster," drawing parallels to the events of 1992. Speaking on Channel 14's "HaPatriotim" program, Netanyahu recalled that in 1992, the right had a majority of votes, but several parties failed to pass the electoral threshold, leading to a loss and subsequently the Oslo Accords. He asserted that his goal was to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state, stating, "The goal of Oslo was to establish a Palestinian state and I did not let that happen." He also claimed that during his previous terms as prime minister, he "stopped the danger" of Oslo through "wisdom and intelligence," rather than canceling it outright, a move he said the left criticized him for.

Netanyahu further cited the 2019 elections as another example of wasted right-wing votes due to parties falling below the electoral threshold, such as Moshe Feiglin's party and the New Right. He blamed Avigdor Lieberman for preventing the formation of a right-wing government at that time, accusing him of "talking right and going left." According to Netanyahu, this led to the "deception government" of Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, which he claimed Lieberman enabled by providing significant funding.

The Prime Minister's remarks come amid a critical juncture in the current election campaign, with significant tension within the right-wing bloc. Netanyahu has recently urged Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich to unite, arguing that a split could jeopardize the bloc's victory and cause parties to fall below the electoral threshold. This call for unity has led to a public confrontation with Ben-Gvir, who rejected a joint run with Smotrich and accused Netanyahu of trying to weaken his Otzma Yehudit party. The dispute intensified over the weekend, with Ben-Gvir calling Netanyahu's move a "cynical game" as political negotiations continue, particularly between Smotrich and Feiglin.