Netanyahu tells Lapid: In Gaza we saw the result of unilateral withdrawal

Israel’s Finance Minister Yair Lapid has come under attacked from officials close to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office after he threatened to topple the government if it attempted to annex settlements in the West Bank.

Netanyahu’s associates said: “Anyone who has political experience knows that concessions are not free of charge, especially with a government where one of its members is a terrorist organisation that wants to eliminate the state of Israel.

“We have seen the result of unilateral withdrawal in Gaza.”

According to them “the prime minister will continue to lead the State of Israel with the responsibility of maintaining the national interests of the citizens of Israel, especially their security.”

Israeli analysts believe that Lapid’s speech yesterday was a turning point in the history of the current Netanyahu government as they reveal the fragility of the coalition government and hint at the fact that the Netanyahu-Lapid partnership will not last.

Opposition leader, Minister of the Knesset Yitzhak Herzog yesterday invited Lapid to leave the Netanyahu government and join the opposition.

Herzog said: “Lapid is being used as a political tool which the right uses to steer Israel as it wants. Netanyahu is not a leader. A leader needs a vision and not to engage in political survival only.”

Herzog called on Lapid to “leave the government and together we will build opposition that leads Israel to peace. Join us and I will bring the other partners.”