Lapid: Israel's foreign relations 'disaster,' must be considered integral part of national security

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has sharply criticized the current government's handling of foreign relations, labeling the country's international standing as a "disaster zone." Speaking at the B'Yachad National Security Conference in Tel Aviv, Lapid presented a six-point plan to rebuild Israel's diplomatic ties, asserting that foreign policy must be treated as a critical component of national security.

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disaster zone

Lapid rejected the notion that the October 7 attacks alone were responsible for Israel's diplomatic challenges. Instead, he accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government of exacerbating the crisis through "negligence, arrogance, and amateurism." He pointed to frequent changes in foreign ministers, the lack of a permanent head for national public diplomacy, and Netanyahu's management of relations with US President Donald Trump as key failures. Despite the damage, Lapid expressed optimism that the situation could be reversed with effective management, noting that many foreign governments distinguish between Israel and its current leadership.

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negligence, arrogance, and amateurism.

The first priority outlined in Lapid's plan is the restoration of bipartisan support in the United States. He cited a recent US House vote where an amendment to cut aid to Israel was defeated, but noted significant Democratic opposition. Lapid also highlighted polling indicating weakening support for Israel among younger Republicans. His strategy includes targeted outreach to younger Americans, Hispanics, African-Americans, evangelicals, academics, and liberal Jewish communities, in addition to engaging with both Democrats and Republicans. Lapid also criticized the potential expiration of the US-Israel security memorandum of understanding in 2028 without a replacement, calling it a "serious mistake." He proposed negotiating a new memorandum alongside a separate scientific and technological agreement covering areas like small modular nuclear reactors and semiconductors.

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The positive part is that this means that things can be fixed. There is long-term damage, but with the right management, the direction can be reversed in a relatively short time.