Israeli opposition critiques Netanyahu’s war strategy at Herzliya conference

At the Herzliya Conference, leading members of Israel’s opposition – former chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot and former prime ministers Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett – presented their foreign‑policy platforms. While analysts noted their positions differ little from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far‑right coalition, the opposition focused criticism on the manner in which the wars in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran have been conducted and on Netanyahu’s perceived subservience to the United States.

Bennett, speaking ahead of the upcoming elections, warned “After a thousand days of war, the truth must be told: Hamas is rearming in the south, Hezbollah is growing stronger, attacking our soldiers and threatening our citizens, and the head of the octopus, the regime in Tehran, remains standing.” Eisenkot accused Netanyahu of exaggerating the Iranian nuclear threat while continuing to back the campaigns in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran. The opposition agrees with the government on the need to fight these wars but argues they should be executed better.

The remarks came as Israel faces growing international criticism and a shift in U.S. public opinion. Netanyahu responded on Channel 14, urging citizens to remain strong, saying “It will never end. If you want to live, you must be strong.” The overall consensus among the opposition is that their critique is stylistic rather than substantive.