Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid extends support to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid ongoing hostage negotiations and concerns over the stability of Netanyahu’s government.
Two years after the tragic events of October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists attacked Israel, killing 1,200 individuals and taking 251 hostages into Gaza, the situation remains precarious. There is still no resolution regarding the hostages, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government faces the threat of collapse. In this challenging context, Netanyahu has found an unexpected ally in Yair Lapid, the leader of the opposition and former Prime Minister, who has offered a “security net” to help stabilize the government as negotiations with Hamas continue.
“Nothing is more important than making this deal, bringing our hostages back home,” Lapid stated in an interview with Fox News Digital.
Lapid’s support comes at a critical time, as right-wing leaders within Netanyahu’s coalition, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have expressed dissatisfaction with Netanyahu’s acceptance of a peace plan proposed by former President Donald Trump. They have threatened to withdraw from the coalition multiple times over the past year.
Netanyahu’s coalition lost its majority in the Knesset in July when two ultra-Orthodox parties exited their ministerial roles following the expiration of an exemption that allowed religious students to avoid military conscription. This departure left Netanyahu’s coalition with control over just 50 of the 120 seats in the Knesset.
<p”Now he’s totally dependent on the extreme alt-right within his government that says no to any deal [with Hamas],” Lapid explained.
When asked about the likelihood of special elections being called once the Knesset reconvenes after its autumn break on October 19, Lapid responded, “very likely.” However, he noted that a special election would not occur before February or March 2026, as there is a designated timeframe for campaigning in Israel. Should the Knesset trigger an early election cycle by November, it would be just seven months earlier than the previously scheduled elections in October 2026.
Lapid believes that the Israeli public would support a more centrist government that includes both right and left factions. He argues that such a coalition would prioritize Israeli security while also working towards an end to the war in Gaza and restoring Jerusalem’s international standing.
“If there’s one thing I’m sorry about, [it] is the fact that nobody in the government has the political courage to stand up and say…this is a just war, we are doing what needs to be done in order to protect ourselves, but we are sorry for every child that loses his life,” Lapid remarked. “Children should not die in grownups’ wars.”
He expressed concern that the current government’s failure to articulate a clear strategy against Hamas has contributed to media bias and false reporting, ultimately costing Israel valuable international support, even from groups that have traditionally backed the nation.
Reflecting on a meeting he had with Netanyahu on October 7, 2023, Lapid described the prime minister as appearing “gray and tired and old all of a sudden.” He recalled telling Netanyahu, “Prime Minister, this is the worst day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust,” and urged the formation of a unity government. Lapid emphasized the need to remove extremists from the government to create a coalition capable of addressing the unprecedented challenges facing Israel.
Despite Lapid’s suggestions, he noted that Netanyahu was “reluctant” to pursue this path. “Until this day, I’m sorry about this. I thought it was the right thing to do, and I still think it was the right thing to do,” he added.
Netanyahu has been a prominent figure in Israeli politics for 15 years, first serving as Prime Minister from March 2009 to June 2021, and then regaining the position in December 2022. Lapid described Netanyahu’s lengthy tenure as “admirable” and a testament to his “resilience,” while also acknowledging the potential benefits of term limits, similar to those in the United States.
Lapid believes that Israelis are ready for a “unity government” in response to Netanyahu’s hard-right coalition. He anticipates that the upcoming elections will be “interesting,” crossing political lines and based on hope.
“It’s been the hardest two years of everybody’s lifetime. And for the first time in a long, long time, the fragility of Israeli society was tangible to us. And we need to rebuild,” Lapid concluded.
Netanyahu’s office did not respond to inquiries from Fox News Digital by the time this report was published.
Source: Original article