Netanyahu slammed by political leaders after tense weekend on Gaza border
With a month to go until the elections, a host of prominent politicians go on the offensive, calling the prime minister 'weak' after 2 rocket attacks and an infiltration attempt within 24 hours; 'Deterrence against Hamas hasn’t been eroded, it’s been erased,' says Gantz
Palestinian militants in Gaza fired at least four rockets into the southern city of Sderot within 24 hours over the weekend, with three projectiles being intercepted by the Iron Dome defense system.
In addition, medical sources in the enclave said Sunday that three Palestinians, who according to Israeli military were trying to infiltrate the border with Israel, were killed by IDF fire and another was left seriously wounded.
Former Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman was among the first to come out against the prime minister. "He is an excellent presenter but a weak leader who lacks leadership and is incapable of making decisions in times of crisis," wrote the Yisrael Beytenu chairman on his Facebook page.
"Again, we are faced with the unbridled behavior of the prime minister, who is currently on his way to the Ukraine to film an election propaganda, while the residents of the south are being held hostage,” Liberman added.
Blue and White Chairman Benny Gantz joined in on the criticism when he visited the Israeli communities bordering the Strip on Sunday morning. “The deterrence hasn’t been eroded, it’s been erased,” said the former IDF chief.
“We will defeat Hamas militarily, we’ll bring quiet to the residents of the south, and will not allow this to spill over into the West Bank.”
Gantz’s fellow Blue and White party member and another former IDF chief of staff, Gaby Ashkenazi, said the prime minister is “only preoccupied with himself.”
"The prime minister is weak, only preoccupied with himself and just wants quiet ahead of the elections,” said Ashkenazi. “This situation has been dragging on for over a decade. It’s incomprehensible that residents have to run to bomb shelters while they’re eating dinner. It's not just a strategic issue, it's every country’s basic duty to protect its residents.”
Finally, Former Education Minister Naftali Bennett visited the scene of Saturday’s car-ramming attack in Gush Etzion in the West Bank that wounded two Israeli youths.
"We will back the prime minister in any military action that needs to be done, but we must turn the situation on its head,” said the Yamina party member. “We need to move on to a policy of persistent attacks, chasing after the terror leaders. They have to start fearing for their lives.”
