Golan warns Netanyahu may exploit Iran conflict to retain power

Israeli Democrats party leader Yair Golan issued a stark warning on Sunday regarding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He stated that the prime minister might exploit a potential new military attack on Iran to remain in power. This caution comes amid significant political uncertainty following the parliamentary elections held last week.

Golan expressed his concerns on the US social media platform X. He wrote that the likelihood of another round of fighting with Iran is growing. The opposition leader argued that the country has reached a point of repeated rounds of fighting with Iran. He claimed this pattern shows just how much Netanyahu has failed in his duties.

The Democrats leader asserted that Netanyahu lacks the moral legitimacy to manage another conflict. He further stated that the prime minister does not possess even the basic capacity for such a task. Golan called for the immediate formation of an alternative government to address these critical leadership deficiencies.

He warned that Israel’s security could be endangered under Netanyahu’s continued leadership. Golan emphasized that forming a new government as soon as possible is of utmost importance. He noted that Israel’s security and the safety of its citizens are currently at stake due to the political deadlock.

This warning emerged after neither Netanyahu’s bloc nor the opposition parties secured enough seats. The preliminary results from last Tuesday’s parliamentary elections showed no clear path to a majority. Consequently, both sides are unable to form a government independently under the current distribution of Knesset seats.

Preliminary results indicated that Netanyahu’s bloc won 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset. In comparison, Jewish opposition parties secured 48 seats during the same election cycle. Palestinian parties won 19 seats, further fragmenting the legislative body and complicating coalition negotiations significantly.

Campaign posters of candidates were displayed on billboards and buildings across Tel Aviv streets. These visuals appeared as election campaigns intensified two days before the vote. The Knesset elections were scheduled for October 27, creating a tense atmosphere in the days leading up to the polling.

Netanyahu has been wanted by the International Criminal Court since 2024. The court seeks him over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity against Palestinians. These allegations relate to Israel’s war on Gaza, which began in October 2023 and continues to influence international legal perspectives.