Israeli Opposition Lawmaker Calls Netanyahu’s Removal an ‘Existential Need’ JERUSALEM — Israeli opposition lawmaker Gilad Kariv of the Democrats party issued a scathing rebuke of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, arguing that removing him from power is an “existential need” for the future of Israeli society.

Kariv voiced his criticisms on X, taking aim at Netanyahu’s handling of the Israeli Defense Forces’ internal investigations regarding the systemic security failures surrounding the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks. Kariv alleged that just as Netanyahu evaded visiting kibbutz communities in the Gaza envelope for months following the initial assault, he continues to evade accountability and the military’s investigative findings.

Accusing the Prime Minister of repeatedly abandoning Israel’s security and demonstrating “complete incompetence” in national defense, Kariv asserted that Netanyahu must not be permitted to make crucial decisions shaping the nation’s future. The remarks coincide with widespread public and political demands for an independent state commission of inquiry into the October 7 disaster. Netanyahu’s government has consistently rejected an independent judicial commission, advocating instead for a government-appointed investigative body.
The political rift arrives ahead of Israel’s parliamentary elections set for October 27, where opinion polls indicate declining support for Netanyahu and his ruling Likud party. Netanyahu faces heightened domestic pressure alongside ongoing domestic corruption trials and an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in Gaza