Likud Defection: Netanyahu's cousin exits party over October 7

Nathan Netanyahu, a cousin of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a professor at Bar-Ilan University, announced on Tuesday evening that he is leaving the Likud party. He posted a letter to X/Twitter stating that he will not vote for the party again because it has abandoned its original values and caused a deep national rift.

Nathan listed four specific failures that he believes prove the government is no longer worthy of public trust. He cited the judicial reform, the October 7 attack, the failure to support citizens, and the refusal to accept responsibility for these events.

Regarding the judicial reform, Nathan described it as a coup d'etat that concentrated power in the hands of the government. He noted that he warned about the danger to judicial independence in an April 2023 speech. He said the debates over this reform tore society apart and shattered national cohesion, a danger senior security officials had also warned about.

The October 7 attack remains a central point of contention for Nathan. He stated that the concept of containing Hamas, a strategy the prime minister led for years using funds from Qatar, was destroyed on that day. He argued that the terrorist organization actually grew stronger under this policy. He counted 1,200 civilians and security personnel killed in what he called the worst disaster since Israel's founding, along with 251 people kidnapped to Gaza.

Nathan criticized the government for its handling of domestic issues. He said the state failed to support its citizens in education, health, and transportation, particularly after the disaster when citizens and volunteers had to fill the vacuum. He also pointed to the exemption of ultra-Orthodox men from military service as a violation of the principle of equality of burden while reservists fought.

A major focus of the letter was the government's refusal to establish a state commission of inquiry into October 7. Nathan asked why such a committee was not created more than three years after the massacre. He argued that government responsibility requires accountability to the public, even if criminal guilt is not proven.

Nathan said he has terminated his membership in the Likud movement immediately. He stated he will consider renewing it only when a leadership not tainted by these shortcomings is elected. He ended the letter by referencing the prophet Amos, saying he would not choose the party for four crimes.

The letter was published on a Tuesday evening, marking a notable split within the party's ranks. Nathan’s departure adds to the pressure on the prime minister’s coalition as they navigate ongoing political and military challenges.