Prime Minister Netanyahu struck back at calls for new elections at a government meeting today (Sunday), saying that this would lead to an end to the war and the loss of the war, something which "we will not allow."
The Prime Minister began by noting that Israel is fighting on both the military and diplomatic fronts, with the latter being a successful effort to let the IDF fight how it needs and for as long as it needs.
But "in the international community, there are those who are trying to end the war now, before securing all its goals. They do this by hurling false accusations against the IDF, against the government of Israel, and against the head of the government of Israel."
"They do so through an effort to bring about elections now in the midst of the war. And they do this, because they know that elections now will stop the war and paralyze the country for at least six months."
"So let this be clear: if we stop the war now, before achieving all its goals, the significance is that Israel lost the war. And this - we will not allow."
Netanyahu also reiterated his support for an operation in Rafah as necessary for destroying Hamas and freeing all of the hostages.
"And to our friends in the international community, I say: Is your memory so short? You forgot October 7 so quickly?...You lost your moral compass so quickly?"
The Likud Party also issued an official response to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's statement calling for new elections and claiming that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu does not represent the majority of Israelis in his conduct of the war.
In the statement, the Likud party said that "we are not a banana republic, but an independent and proud democracy which elected Prime Minister Netanyahu. Prime Minister Netanyahu is leading a determined policy which is supported by an enormous majority of the people."
Israeli Ambassador to the US Michael Herzog also critiqued the decision:
Meanwhile, State Camp party leader and war cabinet member Benny Gantz stated that "the US and Israel have shared values and interests, and the citizens of Israel owe America great thanks" for its support.
He then went on to say that "the Senate Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is a friend of Israel, who helps it a lot even in these days, but he erred in his statement. Israel is a strong democracy, and only its citizens will determine its leadership and its future. Any outside intervention on the matter is not right and not acceptable."
