1. The October 7 catastrophe and the lack of full accountability.
This government failed to protect our citizens.
Hamas and its accomplices are responsible for the crimes, but the country’s leadership must answer for the state’s readiness to prevent the attack and protect the population.
The prime minister bears particular responsibility: he sets the government’s policy direction and priorities, and must ensure that major threats receive the attention they deserve.
Yet three years on, an independent state commission of inquiry that would examine responsibility at every level has still not been established.
Internal military investigations cannot replace such an inquiry.
2. Military achievements that have not been translated into lasting security.
Our military has achieved significant results.
Hostages have been brought home, leaders of terrorist organizations have been eliminated, and our adversaries’ military infrastructure has suffered heavy blows.
These achievements matter.
But it was the political leadership’s job to build on them: to establish a clear postwar framework, put mechanisms in place to prevent our adversaries from rebuilding their capabilities, and create conditions in which our citizens would not have to go through the same ordeal again.
Hamas has not been disarmed.
Despite the devastating losses it suffered in 2024, Hezbollah survived as an armed organization, worked to replenish its arsenal, and resumed firing on Israel in March 2026.
There is still no verifiable resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue, and Iran has already partially restored its missile production.
Weakening our adversaries created opportunities to reshape the strategic situation for years to come.
I believe the government did not make enough of those opportunities.
We have paid an enormous price, yet the risk of facing the same wars again, or even worse ones, remains.
3. Dependence on political decisions made elsewhere.
The alliance with the United States is essential to Israel, but its value does not change the fact that Washington acts primarily in its own interests.
In April, according to Reuters, Netanyahu was briefed on the plan for a ceasefire with Iran only in the final stages of the negotiations.
For a country directly involved in the war, this raises a serious question about how much say it has in the outcome and, by extension, in its own future.
Today, the American president sees an advantage in one course of action. Tomorrow, a different president or a different political calculation will call for something else entirely.
We are the ones who will have to live with the consequences.
The government must strengthen Israel’s ability to set its own goals and defend them in its dealings with even its most important ally.
I believe that prolonging a war without a clear political outcome increases our dependence on outside mediators, their views and their terms.
4. A divided society and an unequal burden.
Judicial reform became one of the main sources of conflict during this government’s term. Trust was not restored. Political confrontation continued throughout the war.
Meanwhile, the burden of military service is still not shared fairly.
Some families shoulder the burden again and again: reserve duty, time apart, lost income and lives at risk.
The coalition continues to protect exemptions for others.
When those who disagree are branded a danger to the country and the word “Kaplanist” is used as a slur, national unity is not strengthened.
Citizens have the right to demand a different policy. That right must be preserved even during a severe crisis.
5. Weakening checks on government power.
It is legitimate to disagree with the courts and propose changes.
But we should judge reforms by who gains additional powers and who can still scrutinize government decisions once those reforms are in place.
During this term, a law was passed that will allow the government, from January 2027, to reject many of the attorney general’s currently binding legal opinions.
Another law was passed that, from the next Knesset term, will increase political parties’ influence over judicial appointments by replacing representatives of the Israel Bar Association with coalition and opposition nominees.
To me, these decisions amount to a steady erosion of independent checks on power.
It is especially difficult to trust such changes when the same leadership resists an independent examination of its own responsibility for the country’s worst security catastrophe.
6. Deteriorating international standing.
Support abroad is an asset for our security, trade and freedom of action.
According to Pew, 42% of Americans viewed Israel unfavorably in spring 2022. By spring 2026, that figure had reached 60%.
This is the public mood in our most important ally!
Combating our adversaries’ propaganda and antisemitism requires serious effort.
At the same time, our government is responsible for its own policies, its ministers’ statements and the quality of its diplomatic work.
For example, a major increase in the public diplomacy budget was announced in late 2024, but the funds did not reach the Foreign Ministry until spring 2025—a year and a half after the outbreak of the war and the significant rise in antisemitism.
An advertising budget alone cannot restore lost trust or make up for lost time.
Today’s failures in our relations with our partners could leave us facing reduced cooperation and new restrictions tomorrow.
7. The economic cost.
In 2023–2024, economic growth slowed sharply amid the war. VAT was raised to 18%. In 2023–2025 alone, consumer prices rose by approximately 9%.
Yes, with the fighting now less intense, the economy is recovering and inflation has fallen. But lower inflation means prices are rising more slowly, not returning to their previous levels.
Nor does economic recovery automatically make up for lost years of growth, rebuild destroyed businesses, bring back lost lives, restore people’s health, or give families back the time they spent away from their homes.
The resilience of our economy does not relieve the leadership of its responsibility to explain what has been achieved at this cost.
For me, this is the common thread running through this government’s term: an enormous national effort, heavy losses, and far too many crucial issues whose resolution has once again been postponed.
We need a government that knows how to turn military achievements into long-term security, share responsibilities fairly, maintain trust and take responsibility for its own decisions.
I do not believe the current government has earned another term.