Eisenkot on Netanyahu: Shin Bet investigation will cause a public earthquake
Against the backdrop of the struggle over the state commission of inquiry, the former Chief of Staff opens a sharp front against Netanyahu, reveals the warnings he gave him before the disaster, and demands the publication of the cabinet protocols.
In an interview held on the "Moriah and Berko" program on Reshet 13, the chairman of the "Yashar" party, Gadi Eisenkot, launched a frontal attack against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and presented his security and political perception ahead of the upcoming elections. Eisenkot called on Netanyahu to vacate his position due to his exclusive responsibility for the events of October 7, and accused him that a decent leader would have resigned after such a severe failure.
He revealed that he had warned the Prime Minister of a catastrophe even before the October 7 disaster due to the ongoing erosion of Israeli deterrence, and issued a dramatic warning that the publication of the Shin Bet investigation into the months leading up to the massacre is expected to cause a public earthquake. According to him, this is the main reason why Netanyahu fears the establishment of a state commission of inquiry.
In response to the claims circulated against him as part of the Likud campaign, according to which he blocked significant military moves, Eisenkot rejected the accusations and demanded that the Cabinet Secretary publish the voting protocols in the cabinet. He clarified that he actively supported the military action in Rafah, and was even the only voice that demanded to act with extensive force against Iran according to the plans proposed by the army, while Netanyahu showed fear and transferred the decision to a narrow ministerial committee. Eisenkot sharply criticized the management of the war and defined Netanyahu's decision-making processes as a chaotic reality, devoid of strategic thinking and based on random steps.
On a series of political and diplomatic issues, Eisenkot set clear red lines ahead of the formation of a future government. He clarified that he would not sit in one coalition with Shas or United Torah Judaism if they do not commit to accepting his basic principles, emphasized that the pursuit of a two-state solution for two peoples is not realistic in the current reality, and committed that a government under his leadership would not evacuate legal farms in Area C. In addition, he expressed willingness to examine rotation agreements and clarified that the leader of the largest party in the Zionist camp is the one who should lead the government.
The political confrontation also spilled over into personal lines when Eisenkot clarified that the chairman of the "Am HaIsrael" party, Brigadier General (res.) Ofer Winter, is not suitable to serve as Minister of Defense in his government because he has not gained experience in the strategic command of the IDF. In a sharp response, Winter attacked Eisenkot's security perception and claimed that he does not want to be part of the perception and appointments that accompanied his tenure. The confrontation escalated even further when former minister Matan Kahana came to Eisenkot's defense, reminded Winter of his service as military secretary under Netanyahu during the period of transferring funds to Hamas, and called on him to do some soul-searching before he criticizes.
