Prime Minister (PM) Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that Israel’s existence could be at stake in the upcoming elections, while targeting his main rival and former Israel Defence Forces (IDF) chief Gadi Eisenkot over his position during the genocide of Gaza.
Speaking on Channel 14’s “The Patriots” programme, Netanyahu defended Israel’s military actions since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack and claimed that he had faced pressure to halt or limit operations on several fronts.
Netanyahu said that he had pushed ahead with genocide in Gaza, and war in Lebanon, Syria and Iran despite what he described as domestic and international pressure. He also claimed Eisenkot had opposed some of those moves.
“From a situation in which we have become a global power — certainly a regional power, but in certain respects a global one as well — we could deteriorate all at once. That is what is at stake in these elections: the existence of the State of Israel,” he said.
Netanyahu again alleged that Eisenkot had opposed the military’s entry into Rafah, the seizure of the Philadelphi Corridor and expanded operations against Hezbollah. Eisenkot has rejected Netanyahu’s version of events.
When asked by host Yinon Magal whether he would agree to release transcripts from wartime meetings, Netanyahu said that he was considering the move.
“If that’s the request, I’m certainly considering it. I’m certainly prepared to do it. I think it would be a very positive thing, because it’s important for the public to see the truth — what was said,” Netanyahu said.
He also added that Israel still had military missions to complete and faced new threats, pointing to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as tensions between Israel and Turkiye have grown over developments in Syria.
Netanyahu also questioned whether Eisenkot would be able to govern independently, claiming he would rely on political partners including Yair Golan, Avigdor Lieberman and Mansour Abbas.
He argued that a coalition involving them would not continue Israel’s military operations in the way he believes is necessary.
“You know very well what they will do. There will be a fire sale here. They will immediately leave Lebanon. They will leave Gaza. They will leave Syria. And they will establish a Palestinian state here. And they say it. They conceal it, but that’s what they think,” he alleged.
“And this won’t just be some Palestinian state. It will be a Palestinian state backed by major powers, and that will be the beginning of the end of Israel. We will go into free fall.”
Eisenkot has repeatedly rejected the idea of establishing a Palestinian state. In a recent interview with Israel Hayom, he said, “Anyone who is thinking about a two-state solution after October 7 is just delusional.”
Prime Minister (PM) Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that Israel’s existence could be at stake in the upcoming elections, while targeting his main rival and former Israel Defence Forces (IDF) chief Gadi Eisenkot over his position during the genocide of Gaza.
Speaking on Channel 14’s “The Patriots” programme, Netanyahu defended Israel’s military actions since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack and claimed that he had faced pressure to halt or limit operations on several fronts.
Netanyahu said that he had pushed ahead with genocide in Gaza, and war in Lebanon, Syria and Iran despite what he described as domestic and international pressure. He also claimed Eisenkot had opposed some of those moves.
“From a situation in which we have become a global power — certainly a regional power, but in certain respects a global one as well — we could deteriorate all at once. That is what is at stake in these elections: the existence of the State of Israel,” he said.
Netanyahu again alleged that Eisenkot had opposed the military’s entry into Rafah, the seizure of the Philadelphi Corridor and expanded operations against Hezbollah. Eisenkot has rejected Netanyahu’s version of events.
When asked by host Yinon Magal whether he would agree to release transcripts from wartime meetings, Netanyahu said that he was considering the move.
“If that’s the request, I’m certainly considering it. I’m certainly prepared to do it. I think it would be a very positive thing, because it’s important for the public to see the truth — what was said,” Netanyahu said.
He also added that Israel still had military missions to complete and faced new threats, pointing to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as tensions between Israel and Turkiye have grown over developments in Syria.
Netanyahu also questioned whether Eisenkot would be able to govern independently, claiming he would rely on political partners including Yair Golan, Avigdor Lieberman and Mansour Abbas.
He argued that a coalition involving them would not continue Israel’s military operations in the way he believes is necessary.
“You know very well what they will do. There will be a fire sale here. They will immediately leave Lebanon. They will leave Gaza. They will leave Syria. And they will establish a Palestinian state here. And they say it. They conceal it, but that’s what they think,” he alleged.
“And this won’t just be some Palestinian state. It will be a Palestinian state backed by major powers, and that will be the beginning of the end of Israel. We will go into free fall.”
Eisenkot has repeatedly rejected the idea of establishing a Palestinian state. In a recent interview with Israel Hayom, he said, “Anyone who is thinking about a two-state solution after October 7 is just delusional.”
