Benjamin Netanyahu under fire from former Israeli premier and Turkish president

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent remarks, urging him to “calm down” and stating that the Ottoman Empire is a thing of the past. Netanyahu warned that Israel will not allow anyone to threaten its security or existence and linked Ankara’s rhetoric to Iran’s regional influence and the contested status of Jerusalem.

Former prime minister Naftali Bennett criticised Netanyahu as “incapable of governing his government”, blaming far‑right ministers Itamar Ben‑Gvir, Bezalel Smotrich and ultra‑Orthodox parties for controlling the prime minister. Bennett said the coalition’s hard‑line policies are damaging Israel’s international standing and that prolonged wars in Gaza, Lebanon and against Iran are draining the economy and military reserves.