Israeli Politics: Rival Parties Accused of Mirroring Netanyahu's Policies

An Israeli lawmaker has accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's main political rivals of failing to offer a meaningful alternative to his policies, particularly on Palestinian rights. Ofer Cassif, a member of the Joint List, criticized the opposition for not cooperating with Palestinian parties and for not challenging Netanyahu's policies on Palestinian rights.

Cassif's comments follow a controversial suggestion by former premier Naftali Bennett that Netanyahu could potentially serve in a future government. Bennett had proposed that Netanyahu could be a minister in a future government if he accepted its central policies, including establishing a state commission of inquiry into the 7 October 2023 attacks.

Bennett's remarks drew criticism from opposition figures, including Gadi Eisenkot, Yair Golan, and Avigdor Lieberman. Bennett later clarified that he had not been serious about the proposal, stating that his party would not sit with Netanyahu in any formation.

Cassif questioned the sincerity of Bennett's clarification, suggesting that the initial remarks reflected the ideological similarities between Bennett and Netanyahu. He stated that the divisions between Netanyahu and his principal challengers were largely personal rather than ideological, particularly when it came to Palestinian rights.

Cassif also noted that the opposition parties reject the idea of a Palestinian independent state, similar to Netanyahu's stance.