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Israel opposition demand Netanyahu, his cabinet step down over 7 October failures

January 22, 2025 at 11:49 am

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears before the District Court in Tel Aviv to testify for the first time in his corruption trial in Tel Aviv, Israel on December 10, 2024 [Chaim Goldberg / Flash90 / Pool – Anadolu Agency]

Israeli opposition leaders yesterday called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his coalition government to resign over failures that led to the 7 October 2023 infiltration into Israel by Palestinian resistance factions, Anadolu reported.

This came after senior generals in the Israeli army led by army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and Southern Command Commander Yaron Finkelman announced their resignations citing military failure in preventing the events of 7 October.

In a statement released yesterday, Halevi said he notified Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz that he intends to resign on 6 March, claiming he will work during this period to conclude investigations into 7 October.

Later, an Israeli army statement said the commander of the southern region, Yaron Finkelman, also submitted his resignation to Halevi.

“On October 7, I failed in my duty to protect the Western Negev and this failure is seared within me for life,” Finkelman claimed in a statement announcing his resignation.

Following Halevi’s resignation, opposition leaders criticised Netanyahu, calling on him and his government to shoulder their responsibility and resign.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid said he saluted Halevi for stepping down and added: “Now, it is time for them to take responsibility and resign – the prime minister and his entire catastrophic government.”

For his part, Yisrael Beiteinu Party leader Avigdor Lieberman also called on Netanyahu and members of his security cabinet “to take responsibility and go home.”

Leader of the opposition Democratic Party, Yair Golan also took to X to “Thank Herzi” adding “Netanyahu, now it’s your turn.”

Meanwhile, the head of the opposition State Camp Party and former member of Netanyahu’s war cabinet, Benny Gantz demanded the formation of an official commission of inquiry into the 7 October “failures”.

He stressed that Netanyahu and the political echelon must shoulder their responsibilities by forming an official commission of inquiry, while working to lead Israel toward elections that will allow the formation of a new government that restores public confidence.

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