Former Prime Minister and opposition leader Yair Lapid announced at the opening of a meeting of the Yesh Atid faction on Monday that he would agree to sit in an alternative government to be formed under Benny Gantz, Gadi Eisenkot or Yuli Edelstein.
According to Lapid, "Benny Gantz, Gadi Eisenkot and Gideon Sa'ar should leave the government. This government is not fit to lead the war. Netanyahu is not fit to lead the country. Benny, Gadi and Gideon came under Netanyahu because they believed it was for the good of the state, but they couldn't give it a hand. As long as they're there, as long as they're sitting under Netanyahu, they're legitimizing it."
Quiet partners. Eizenkot and Gantz, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
"The State of Israel needs a different government, and a different prime minister. Yesh Atid will give 24 fingers to any move to change the government. Either in elections, or in an alternative government. It can be headed by Benny, Gadi or Yuli Edelstein."
Asked by Israel Hayom about the position of the faction and Lapid on the matter of MK Ofer Kasif, Lapid said: "Kasif should not be a MK in the State of Israel or in the Israeli Knesset. The faction will convene and discuss it, it's a shame they didn't do the same with Amichai Eliyahu, who threatened to throw atomic bombs at Gaza."
MK Kasif on a committee in the Knesset. Against Israel, Photo: Jonathan Zindel/Flash90
Lapid, who did not agree to join the Freedom Government that was formed, continued his harsh criticism of Netanyahu and the government he heads. "This is a government in which the security cabinet has become an arena for toxic attacks on the IDF. This is a government that continues to transfer, in the midst of the war, billions of shekels to disgraceful coalition funds. This is a government that has no political action and has not defined a strategic purpose for war. This is not a unity government, it is not an emergency government. They are not saving the State of Israel, they are saving Netanyahu."
On the right-wing extremes of Netanyahu's government, Lapid said: "For the sake of our fighters, for the sake of the abductees and evacuees, it is wrong to leave Ben-Gvir, Smotrich and Strzok in power. For the sake of the reservists and their families, it is wrong to let them pass another criminal and corrupt budget."
Herzi Halevi. Lapid: "Every cabinet meeting turns into a toxic attack on the army," Photo: IDF Spokesperson
Lapid also referred to the attacks on the IDF and the chief of staff as anticipated at last week's stormy cabinet meeting. "For weeks now, Netanyahu's poison machine and his aides have been attacking the chief of staff, the army, commanders and fighters. Every cabinet meeting turns into a toxic attack on the military. Gadi and Benny were chief of staff. They can't give it a hand. No matter how much they don't protest, a few condemnations that they won't issue, as long as they're there, as long as they're sitting under Netanyahu, they're legitimizing it."
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