Israeli Opposition Leader Yair Lapid Calls for Elections Amid Ongoing Gaza Conflict
Today, Yair Lapid, the Israeli opposition leader, stated that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cannot continue in his role and called for elections to take place amid the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip that has lasted for more than two months. This marks the first time a high-ranking Israeli official has called for elections during wartime, as previous calls were made for post-conflict elections.
In an interview with Ynet, affiliated with the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, Lapid asserted that Netanyahu should not remain as Prime Minister, proposing that elections could be conducted even during the conflict.
Netanyahu insists on continuing the war with the hope of ending the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) rule which has continued over Gaza since the summer of 2007 and eliminating the movement's military capabilities.
Expectations and Criticisms
Expectations are rising within Israel that anticipated post-war investigations into military and intelligence failures against Hamas could spell the end of Netanyahu’s political career.
For about a year, Netanyahu has led a coalition government, which is described by the Israeli media as the most extreme right-wing in the history of Israel.
Regarding his opinion on the news of a possible new ceasefire agreement that includes a prisoner exchange deal, Lapid, a former prime minister, stated that a new proposition should be introduced; as soon as the paper is on the table, it will prompt movement, even if it is not accepted.
Lapid further clarified that he assured the Prime Minister that the opposition would offer support, even for difficult prices in a deal concerning the detainees.
It should be noted that Netanyahu has repeatedly tried to attribute the failures to the army and intelligence services, which has raised sharp criticism of him even within his own government.
Since October 7 last year, the Israeli military has launched a destructive war on Gaza that, up to mid-current month, has resulted in 18,800 martyrs and 51,000 wounded, most of them children and women, along with colossal destruction of infrastructure and an unprecedented humanitarian disaster, according to official Palestinian sources.
