Israeli Figures Rally Against Netanyahu, Accuse Him of Hijacking Their Own Country
Sharp criticism of Israel’s government direction has emerged from within the country, even from figures who once held the highest military and political positions. Amid conflicts that have yet to fully subside, they assess that the government’s strategy is leading Israel into an increasingly difficult situation.
Three former senior Israeli officials have launched strong condemnations against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration, stating that the country has been “hijacked” and has failed to achieve its goals in the war against Iran.
Two former Israeli military chiefs of staff, Dan Halutz and Moshe Ya’alon, wrote in an article published in Haaretz that the current state of the nation is far from its founding ideals.
“On the eve of Israel’s 78th independence anniversary (according to the Hebrew calendar), we are compelled to say bitterly: Israel has been hijacked by a regime that views the nation’s resources as its own personal property,” they wrote, quoted on Friday (23/4/2026).
They also assessed that the current government has lost connection with the people’s reality. “Completely detached from its citizens’ reality, acting as if this country is the personal property of Netanyahu, his wife (Sara), and Miri Regev (the transport minister),” they continued.
Referring to the general election expected in October, both called for a change in political direction. “We call on the public to take back control of this country.”
Similar criticism came from former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, who also wrote in the same media outlet. He acknowledged that Israel’s adversaries have faced military pressure but emphasised that the war’s objectives have not been achieved.
“The enemies have suffered painful blows that have weakened them all,” Barak wrote. However, he added, “not a single war objective has been achieved. Hamas is still in Gaza, and Hezbollah remains in Lebanon.”
Further, he highlighted that the joint Israeli and US attacks have failed to cripple Iran. “The regime in Tehran has survived the combined Israel-US attack, and the nuclear threat and ballistic missiles have not been eliminated,” he said.
According to Barak, this situation reflects a serious strategic and political failure. He described it as “a serious strategic and political failure when viewed from the balance of power, because Israel and the United States should have won.”
He also assessed that Israel’s position is now increasingly dependent on Washington. “A country under the United States, which imposes operational and diplomatic decisions that are determining through harsh and sometimes humiliating directives,” he wrote.
In recent months, Israel has indeed been involved in various military operations in the region. Since 2 March, Israeli attacks in Lebanon have reportedly killed 2,294 people, injured 7,544 others, and forced more than one million residents to flee, before US President Donald Trump announced a 10-day ceasefire last Thursday.
On the other hand, Israel, along with the US, has also waged war against Iran since 28 February. The conflict killed more than 3,000 people before Washington and Tehran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on 8 April, mediated by Pakistan, as an effort to pave the way towards a peace agreement.