The leader of the Israeli opposition, Yair Lapid, called this evening, Wednesday, for the isolation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his removal from the political scene, and the formation of a broad national unity government led by Likud, to “rehabilitate” the State of Israel and continue the war on the Gaza Strip.

Lapid's statements came in an interview this evening on Israeli Channel 12, in which he called for the first time to dismiss Netanyahu in light of his government's failure to repel the Qassam Brigades attack on October 7th.

Lapid said, "Netanyahu must leave now during the fighting, and we will participate in a government under the leadership of another Likud candidate. We will talk with Likud leaders. There are many, many Likud members who understand that the country has gone to a bad place."

Lapid considered that the current government is a "nonfunctional government." He continued, "We need change. Netanyahu cannot continue as prime minister. We cannot bear the costs of managing a long battle with a prime minister whom the public does not trust."

Commenting on Lapid’s statements, a brief statement issued by Likud said, “It is unfortunate and shameful for Lapid to get involved in politics during the war and call for the dismissal of the prime minister who is leading the battle.”

Likud claimed that Lapid aims to "replace (Netanyahu's current government) with a government that establishes a Palestinian state and allows the Palestinian Authority to control Gaza."

Following this, Yesh Atid, Lapid’s party, issued a statement saying, “It seems that Likud got the idea wrong: Lapid is proposing a government led by Likud, and the prime minister from Likud is not Netanyahu. This is how we begin national healing.”

The head of the "National Camp" party and member of the Israeli "War Cabinet", Benny Gantz, expressed his rejection of calls to replace Netanyahu, considering that the time is "not appropriate to replace him," in statements he issued last Monday.

Gantz reportedly "opposes" calls coming from several directions in the corridors of the Israeli political system, urging action to replace Netanyahu.

Gantz said in closed-room interviews that “in the midst of war, it is not an appropriate time to change the head of the political pyramid,” in a position he expressed several times recently, according to “Kan 11.”

Israelis are demanding that Netanyahu be replaced, especially after he refused to bear responsibility for the sudden attack by the Hamas movement against the “Gaza envelope” settlements on October 7.

The failures are scheduled to be investigated on October 7, after the end of the war on Gaza, according to several Israeli officials.