Opposition leader Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid) slammed the government on Monday for continuing to advance controversial coalition legislation during wartime, accusing it of harming national unity.
The remarks came during a press conference at the Knesset after the parliament moved to a limited-functioning framework during the war, reducing non-mandatory committee meetings and legislation.
“They have no shame,” Lapid said. “They promised us, they told reporters that they would only bring [to the Knesset] laws related to the war.”
“We are not fools, so we went to check. As usual, they sneakily transferred powers unrelated to the war. They continue to push the draft evasion law.”
The government has been advancing a law it claims will conscript haredim (ultra-Orthodox) into the IDF. Critics argue that the law is a political measure to appease the haredi parties in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition and will not effectively enforce conscription.
Lapid also claimed that the government was approving “NIS 5 billion in coalition funds – corrupt political money – hoping the public won’t notice because they are in bomb shelters.”
“What did we ask from Netanyahu’s office, which is still running this entire poisonous operation? Take a two-week break from all the disgusting things and let the people of Israel unite around a just war that we all support!” Lapid said.
Lapid further criticizes government
He also slammed the coalition for convening to advance controversial legislation in the country’s broadcasting sector.
“The government preaches to us that we need to unite during wartime, and then today, right now, they advance legislation with the purpose of transferring more money to Channel 14,” he emphasized.
The opposition leader criticized the government for not using the time to create “a reasonable compensation plan” for businesses that have been impacted during the war.
He also said that it should be using the time to develop “a sensible plan” for the education system, which has moved to remote learning during the war.
Lapid added that for the past 10 days, the opposition has been fully supportive, “and in return, the poison machine is going at us full force.”
“There will be plenty of time to fight later. People are in bomb shelters with their children. They are scared, being shot at; take a break.”
“Enough with the division, the incitement, and the lies. It cannot be, it simply cannot be, that even during a war you continue to behave like this,” he concluded.
Lapid had rallied behind the prime minister last week as both the coalition and opposition called to put aside their differences during the war and offer full backing for Operation Roaring Lion.
The opposition leader held a security assessment with Netanyahu. He subsequently said he had told the prime minister that “all of Israel is united behind the operation.”
Other opposition party leaders, including former prime minister Naftali Bennett, former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot, Yair Golan, and MK Avigdor Liberman, have voiced support for the government’s operation against Iran.