Israeli Writer Warns Netanyahu’s Cabinet is in Political ICU Amid Security and Institutional Collapse
Avi Ashkenazi, an Israeli writer, wrote in an article for the Hebrew newspaper Maariv that Benjamin Netanyahu has lost control and his cabinet’s policies are driving Israel towards the collapse of its security and political institutions. He compared the current situation to an illness requiring intensive care in one of the country’s best hospitals.
According to Ashkenazi, developments in the occupied territories reflect a process leading to the destruction of cabinet structures, weakening of security, and a vacuum in prevailing values. He warned that continuing this situation could further weaken the foundations of governance and internal cohesion in Israel.
Ashkenazi also claimed that Netanyahu’s cabinet ignores key governing bodies including the army, security agencies, judiciary, and the media. He cited the exemption of ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students from mandatory military service, despite warnings from Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir about its consequences, as an example of this approach.
The article also referred to the case of Oliver Azaria, who was convicted for the killing of martyr Abdelfattah al-Sharif in Hebron. Ashkenazi criticized the proposal for pardoning Azaria and clearing his criminal record, stating that Azaria has not taken responsibility for his actions nor expressed remorse.
The writer further criticized what he called “chaos” in managing security affairs and questioned Transportation Minister Merav Michaeli’s decision to ban the landing of American refueling planes at Ben-Gurion Airport. He also highlighted internal cabinet disputes over the budget for reconstruction and rehabilitation of wounded soldiers, noting these divisions deepen while Tel Aviv faces conflict on multiple fronts.
In conclusion, Ashkenazi warned that Israel is at an unprecedented stage of security and moral decline, and that continuing on this trajectory could have severe consequences for the future of the regime.
