Liberman on the situation in the country: 'Absolute madness'

In an interview with Maariv, Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Liberman sharply criticized the coalition and Prime Minister Netanyahu, accusing the authorities of security failures and manipulating public opinion. He claimed that the IDF lacks ammunition, called the government 'sectoral, anti-state, and anti-Zionist,' and said the alliance with religious parties harms security more than Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis combined. Liberman also accused the Shin Bet of politicization and set conditions for a new government, including universal conscription.

In an interview with Maariv, Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Liberman sharply criticized the coalition and Prime Minister Netanyahu, accusing the authorities of security failures and attempts to manipulate public opinion. He said the situation in the country is 'absolute madness,' pointing to a shortage of ammunition in the IDF and the simultaneous distribution of hundreds of millions of shekels in coalition funds. According to him, the current government is 'sectoral, anti-state, and anti-Zionist,' and Netanyahu's alliance with religious parties 'harms security more than Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis combined.' Liberman accused the Shin Bet of politicization and said the prime minister could use the service against opponents. He criticized Shin Bet head David Zini, calling him 'a good soldier and a brave officer, but completely unsuitable for this position.' Among the conditions for forming a new government, he listed the establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the events of October 7, the adoption of a universal conscription law, mandatory basic education subjects, term limits for the prime minister, and the adoption of a constitution. Liberman proposed requiring all citizens to perform either military or civilian service, without exceptions, and introducing strict sanctions for those who evade. He also said Israel has been fighting a war of attrition for three years without a clear goal, and that six fronts are open. The politician called for decisive action, including the elimination of Hamas, and criticized Washington's policies, particularly the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey and the possible permission for Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium.