Israeli lawmaker accuses Netanyahu of destroying the state

Israeli Knesset member Ram Ben-Barak of the Yesh Atid party has accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of being responsible for the “destruction of the state.” In a social media post, Ben-Barak cited the collapse of the education system, deteriorating infrastructure, and the emigration of thousands of doctors and academics as consequences of Netanyahu’s leadership.

Ben-Barak further alleged that Netanyahu has turned a blind eye to Jewish terrorism and promoted rhetoric labeling all Arabs as terrorists. He argued that Netanyahu is “more dangerous to Israel than Iran and Hezbollah,” suggesting that such leadership could lead to the end of the state, drawing historical parallels to the short-lived Davidic and Hasmonean kingdoms.

The accusations come amid intense political friction regarding the government’s handling of the October 7, 2023, attacks. The opposition has criticized a government proposal to establish a self-appointed investigative committee rather than an independent official inquiry, claiming the move is an attempt to evade accountability. General elections are scheduled for October 27.