'This is not a ceasefire': Bennett, Eisenkot blast government as Hezbollah fire intensifies

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot have sharply criticized the Israeli government's handling of security in northern Israel amid a significant increase in Hezbollah rocket fire. Bennett accused the government of reverting to a policy of "containment" and failing to restore security to residents of the north, who he stated deserve the same safety as those in Tel Aviv.

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Residents of the north endured yet another weekend of lawlessness. They deserve to live in security, just like in Tel Aviv.

"This is not a victory. This is not Zionism. This is not an appropriate response," Bennett said, emphasizing that Beirut's Dahiya district "must tremble until security returns to the north." He advocated for a dual approach of full operational freedom for the IDF and intensified regional diplomacy involving Saudi Arabia and Gulf states. Bennett also deemed the current coalition "incapable" of restoring security.

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This is not a victory. This is not Zionism. This is not an appropriate response.

Eisenkot echoed these sentiments, arguing that Hezbollah's continued attacks reflect a leadership failure. "Northern Israel and the security of its residents are not abandoned, and Hezbollah fire on Israel every 22 minutes on average on Saturday is not fate – it is a lack of leadership," he stated. He attributed the ongoing attacks to "Netanyahu and his government's inability to make decisions, initiate, plan, and execute."

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Northern Israel and the security of its residents are not abandoned, and Hezbollah fire on Israel every 22 minutes on average on Saturday is not fate – it is a lack of leadership.

Eisenkot described the situation as "not a ceasefire, this is a war with only one side participating," and called for broad, unrestricted military action against Hezbollah throughout Lebanon. He also accused ministers of prioritizing political disputes over the needs of northern residents. The frustration was palpable, with Kiryat Shmona Deputy Mayor Ze'evik Zweigi even threatening to leave Likud if the security situation did not improve within a month.

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This is not a ceasefire; this is a war with only one side participating.