Opposition leader Yair Lapid said that Katz's "reckless and hysterical statement is a gift to Israel’s enemies,” and accused the government of failing to eradicate Hamas or bring down Iran.
Defense Minister Israel Katz said future attacks on Israel would be blamed on opposition leaders who questioned the government’s security warnings on Thursday, prompting opposition leader Yair Lapid to accuse him of handing Israel’s enemies a “gift.”
“Every attack on Israel and any future terrorist attacks, should they, God forbid, occur, will be recorded against the names of Yair Lapid, Naftali Bennett, Yair Golan and their opposition colleagues,” Katz said in a statement.
Katz accused the opposition figures of repeatedly attacking him and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and casting doubt on their reasons for warning that Israel’s enemies intended to strike on the eve of the election or during voting to influence the outcome.
Katz said the warnings were based on information available to the government, and did not disclose the underlying intelligence or identify a specific planned attack.
“It is important that our enemies know that the Guardian of Israel will not slumber, and that we are aware, determined and prepared for every possibility, regardless of any political process,” Katz said.
He argued that accusations of ulterior motives reflected narrow political considerations, undermined Israeli deterrence and encouraged Israel’s enemies to act.
“The prime minister and I will continue to do whatever is necessary to protect Israel’s citizens and strike our enemies forcefully, at any time and in any place, as we have done throughout recent years,” Katz said.
Lapid: Katz's statement is 'gift to Israel’s enemies'
“The defense minister’s reckless and hysterical statement is a gift to Israel’s enemies,” Lapid said in response.
“Once again, this government of failure is looking for excuses and people to blame for the failures of Netanyahu and the incompetents surrounding him.”
Lapid accused the government of failing to eradicate Hamas, bring down Iran, eliminate Hezbollah, and succeed internationally, before seeking to blame the opposition.
“What cowardice. What an admission of their inability to run the country and provide security for its citizens,” he said.
“In their desperation to escape defeat in the election, they are now turning the security of the State of Israel into a circus.”
“If they remain, there will be more October 7's, more flydubais, and a further strengthening of Iran,” Lapid added.
Yashar chairman Gadi Eisenkot and Democrats head Yair Golan also decried Katz’s statement, with Eisenkot accusing Katz of “laying the groundwork for the next disaster and shifting responsibility in advance.”
“Our military is strong, but the leadership is rotten and dangerous,” he said.
Golan added that Katz “lacks the mental fortitude for the job.”
“This is an insanely irresponsible statement. The incitement is working, and this illustrates why we must not join a coalition with these people.”