Israeli opposition leader Eisenkot says Netanyahu is 'no longer capable' of leading the country

Opposition leader accuses the prime minister of being detached from reality

Days before the Knesset elections, the leader of the Israeli opposition, head of the Yashar party, Gadi Eisenkot, said on Saturday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is 'no longer capable' of leading the country. According to him, Netanyahu's economic plan, aimed at countering possible international sanctions, threatens national security. On the social network X, Eisenkot accused the prime minister of, after 'destroying Israeli society and weakening the army,' now engaging in 'destroying the Israeli economy for generations to come.' He called the prime minister's words 'final proof that he has lost touch with reality and moved into a world of illusions,' and the plan itself — 'the madness of a man who is no longer capable of leading the country' (Anadolu).

The trigger was Netanyahu's remarks about sanctions and cryptocurrencies

Eisenkot's statement came a day after Netanyahu said that he had requested an economic plan with alternative payment methods, including cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology,in case of possible international economic and banking sanctions. The prime minister expressed concern about potential restrictions, including on the Israeli banking system. He also warned that American military aid would not last forever and called for preparing for its possible end by strengthening military self-reliance. At the same time, as Anadolu notes, Netanyahu did not say that Israel would leave the global economic system: the characterization of the plan as isolation is part of Eisenkot's criticism.

'Bibicoin' and a warning about isolation

Eisenkot mocked the initiative, calling it 'Bibicoin' — after the prime minister's nickname Bibi and the proposed use of alternative payment technologies. He questioned how Israeli technology companies serving foreign clients would receive payments and attract investment if they had to bypass international banking and rely on cryptocurrencies, and how international acquisitions of Israeli companies would then take place. In his view, such a course could prompt companies to move abroad, lead to losses of savings and investments, and push citizens to emigrate, resulting in job cuts and reduced resources for healthcare and education, which would ultimately harm national security. 'This is not an imaginary nightmare scenario, but Netanyahu's plan for Israel if he is re-elected' on Tuesday, Eisenkot said, adding: 'This is a real warning. Israel will not survive another four years like these' (Anadolu).

Criticism from economic circles as well

The prime minister's remarks also drew criticism from Israeli political and economic circles. Israeli media quoted an unnamed senior economic official who said that using cryptocurrencies and alternative financial technologies to circumvent banking sanctions would not achieve the intended goal, and warned that the very proposal of such an approach could already damage the economy. The discussion is unfolding against the backdrop of growing international pressure on Israel over the war in the Gaza Strip, the expansion of settlements, and the occupation forces' attacks in the West Bank of the Jordan River. The United Kingdom and other Western countries have taken measures against individuals and entities linked to Israeli settlements, and in Israel concerns are growing about broader economic and diplomatic pressure (Anadolu).

Election context

The exchange of statements comes on the eve of the Knesset elections on Tuesday, in which Netanyahu and Eisenkot are competing for the right to form the next government. In his post, Eisenkot called on Israelis to vote for 'a better shared future'. The former Chief of the General Staff is one of the prime minister's main rivals; the two differ sharply on security and economic issues, on governing the country and on foreign relations. Israeli politics, Anadolu notes, remains deeply divided over accountability for the failures connected with the October 2023 attack, the conduct of the subsequent wars, military conscription, the economy, and relations with the United States and other Western countries.

Why this matters

The statement came just days before an election that will determine Israel's next government, so the dispute over the sanctions contingency plan has become one of the central points of the election campaign. For Israeli companies and citizens the practical stakes are high: according to estimates cited in publications, pursuing a course of bypassing international banking could affect payments, investments, savings and social spending. It remains unclear exactly what plan Netanyahu requested in detail and whether it will be implemented — the two sides describe it differently, and verifying this before the election is difficult.