Leadership race heats up in Israel

The announcement that the US and Iran have reached an agreement to end military conflict has triggered a serious wave of anger in Tel Aviv, particularly among right-wing lawmakers. In the Israeli political arena, the most notable move came from former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.

Bennett targeted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration, stating that he expects his resignation and is ready to form a new government. Reiterating his claim by saying, "The Netanyahu government will soon come to an end. I will form the new government," Bennett signaled a new strategy that will focus on restoring Israel's security.

In his statements, Bennett expressed that for the regime in Tehran to change, it is essential that the government in Israel changes first, and he pledged to be Iran's primary adversary.

BENNETT'S "OCTOPUS DOCTRINE" PLAN

Criticizing the period of the Netanyahu government, Bennett stated that the country is going through a period close to civil war and that, following the attacks on October 7, the process was handled with a historic mistake regarding Iran.

Expressing that he is preparing to follow a different path on many points, from diplomatic moves to military steps, Bennett also personally criticized former US President Donald Trump's calls for amnesty for Netanyahu. Instead, he noted that Israel would utilize its strength in relations with the US solely in line with the country's interests.

Bennett shared the details of the approach he calls the "octopus doctrine": "With one hand, prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, and with the other, accelerate the collapse of the regime through political, economic, technological, and military tools." With this strategy, he signaled that Israel would follow a new course in foreign policy.

In his closing remarks, Bennett argued that the countdown for regime change in Iran would begin with a change in leadership in Israel. Israel's political future and the new balances in the region appear poised to be the most discussed topics in the coming days.

News Source: 12punto