As turmoil sears, top Israeli officials engage in frenzy of rage

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli Media
1 Mar 2023 23:17
2 Shares

Israeli occupation President Isaac Herzog says "Israel" "may plunge into a terrible abyss."

Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a session at the Knesset, Dec. 28, 2022 (Reuters)

Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday equated between Israelis protesting against the government's so-called "judicial reforms" and illegal Israeli settlers who raided the town of Huwara in the occupied West Bank, killing one Palestinian and burning dozens of homes and vehicles.

"We won’t accept violence in Huwara and we won’t accept violence in Tel Aviv," Netanyahu claimed in a statement.

The Israeli occupation Prime Minister considered that in both situations, Israeli settlers crossed red lines.

"Freedom to protest is not a license to drive the country to anarchy," he said.

Netanyahu, 'a weak and dangerous man': Lapid

In response, opposition leader MK Yair Lapid condemned Netanyahu's comparison as "a terrible statement," describing the Israeli occupation Prime Minister as "a weak and dangerous man."

"Huwara was a pogrom carried out by terrorists. How does Netanyahu equate them with people who served in Sayeret Matakal, Apache pilots, reservists, doctors, students, and people who took to the streets today," Lapid said.

"These are the best people in Israel, that was a terrible statement, fomenting a feud by a weak and dangerous man," he added.

"Israel" may plunge into a terrible abyss: Herzog

On his part, Israeli occupation President Isaac Herzog said earlier that he is fearful for the fate of "Israel", following protests that saw illegal Israeli settlers blocking roads and train stations in protest of the "judicial reforms" of Netanyahu's government.

"All of us — are in a difficult hour of an internal, deep, and serious crisis that threatens us all," Herzog admitted, speaking at the graduation of Navy cadets in Haifa.

He said that "Israel" "may plunge into a terrible abyss, but on the other hand, we can reach a solution with broad agreement."

"I will not let our State of Israel — of all of us — reach the point of no return, I will not let this historical disaster happen," the Israeli occupation President underlined.

'A civil war is coming'

On his part, opposition leader Benny Gantz urged Netanyahu to immediately meet with him over the government’s "judicial reforms", warning that "Israel" was heading toward a civil war.

"When will we stop? When blood is spilled?" Gantz said at a press conference in the Israeli Knesset, adding that "a civil war is coming and the coalition is running toward it with its eyes wide shut."

"This is a real emergency," he indicated.