Olmert to Netanyahu, his government: You set a high bar for your goals
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Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert launches an attack on Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his government, accusing them of gambling with the lives of Israeli captives.
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Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert leaves the courtroom after the court ruled on his appeal in the 'Holyland corruption case' in occupied al-Quds on December 29, 2025. (AP)
In a television interview on Israeli Channel 4, former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert launched an attack on the current Israeli government, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of avoiding the implementation of a deal to free Israeli captives held by the Palestinian resistance. He asserted that this reluctance is causing them to "gamble with the lives of prisoners."
Olmert pointed out that Netanyahu made a mistake by setting unattainable goals for the war. He emphasized that the army's achievements fall far short of the declared goal, which is the elimination of the Hamas movement. He also accused Netanyahu of "seeking internal conflicts and eroding confidence in the Chief of Staff and Israel's security officials".
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In his interview, he stated that Benjamin Netanyahu brought "barbarians into the cabinet, and this is unprecedented," referring to the extreme right-wing parties in "Israel". He further criticized Police Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, describing him as "the enemy of Israel." Olmert expressed his belief that these parties aim for the war on Gaza to serve as a prelude to the war they desire in the West Bank.
He emphasized that "the Israeli government must decide to halt the military battle at this stage to facilitate the return of the prisoners."
In an interview with the Financial Times on October 12 last year, Olmert emphasized concerns about a potential ground incursion into Gaza, stating, "What awaits Israeli soldiers is everything you can imagine and worse." He added, "It's not going to be simple, and it won't be pleasant."
Olmert's words were based on his experience from when he was Prime Minister of the occupying entity in 2008, and his army launched an aggression against Gaza, which lasted three weeks, in addition to his experience during the July 2006 war in Lebanon with the ground advance against Hezbollah.
