Several Israeli politicians have accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of being a growing danger to the country, as the Democratic Party succeeded in taking control of both the US House and Senate in Tuesday's US midterm elections.
Democrats' party chair Yair Golan warned that Netanyahu's continued role as prime minister could create a situation where Israel is isolated and sanctioned by the rest of the world.
"The results of the US midterm elections, which came in overnight, reveal just how toxic Netanyahu has become, both among Democrats and Republicans," wrote Golan in a Wednesday morning post to X/Twitter.
"I am sounding an alarm: the continued tenure of Netanyahu and [National Security Minister Itamar] Ben-Gvir could set Israel on a path toward international sanctions, global isolation, and a confrontation with the United States, our most important friend and ally."
"Israel needs a government that will restore its standing on the world stage, advance long-term strategic and diplomatic arrangements, and ensure its security," he said. "This is the choice before us: a 'Netanyahu-style' Israel, a 'Super-Sparta' that is boycotted, regressive, and isolated, or an Israel that is strong, progressive, free, and secure."
"Netanyahu has lost the election. He is dangerous for Israel. We have no time to waste. A government of change must be formed now," Golan concluded.
MK Gilad Kariv (The Democrats) echoed the sentiment in his own post, urging Netanyahu to step down.
"The dramatic 'blue wave' within the US Democratic Party makes one thing unequivocally clear: the continued rule of Netanyahu, alongside the annexationist policies championed by [Finance Minister Bezalel] Smotrich, will severely damage the existential interests of the State of Israel," said Kariv.
"Within American politics, across both parties, there exists a mainstream with whom it is possible to work to preserve the special relationship between Israel and the United States," Kariv wrote. "This cannot happen under a government led by Netanyahu and Smotrich, nor under a sham 'unity' government whose policies are dictated by them."
"Netanyahu must vacate the Prime Minister’s Office, and do so quickly."
In a second post, Kariv accused Netanyahu of destroying relations with "the Democratic Party and with half of the Republican Party."
"Anyone who continues to speak this morning about unity with Netanyahu fails to understand the election results in Israel, and fails to understand the election results in the United States," he added.
US midterms ruined chance of forming unity gov't, Lapid says
Outgoing opposition leader Yair Lapid (B’Yachad) added that the midterm results, as well as the ongoing dispute between Shin Bet Director David Zini and Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara, have ruined any chance of forming a unity government with Netanyahu.
"Zini’s remarks last night, combined with the election results in America this morning, have led to one unforeseen consequence: they effectively rule out any possibility of a unity government led by Netanyahu," wrote Lapid on X. "Israel cannot afford for him to remain prime minister. It endangers our security, it jeopardizes our democracy, and it will ruin our standing on the global stage."
The Joint List's Ahmad Tibi, rather than condemn Netanyahu, appeared to mock the Shin Bet's investigation into foreign interference in the 26th Knesset elections.
"Zini is investigating a suspected link between the Joint List and the Democrats in the US," wrote Tibi on X. "According to the suspicion, the same sophisticated method was employed in both cases: people arrived at the polling station in droves, cast a ballot, and went home."