Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Criticized by Former Leader and Warns Turkey’s Erdogan

Former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett said the current premier, Benjamin Netanyahu, “is not able to run his own government” because he is “controlled by the far‑right ministers Itamar Ben‑Gvir, Bezalel Smotrich and ultra‑orthodox groups.” Bennett argued that this dependence harms Israel’s international image and that prolonged wars in Gaza, Lebanon and against Iran drain the country’s economy, adding that any future conflict should be fought quickly and decisively.

In a separate interview, Netanyahu responded to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, telling him “to calm down” and noting that “400 years of Ottoman rule are over.” He warned that Turkey would not be allowed to threaten Israel’s existence, linked Erdogan’s rhetoric to a weakening Iran, described Turkey as an “axis of the Muslim Brotherhood,” and referenced recent talks with Egypt about respecting the 1979 peace treaty.