Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government have been criticized in Israeli politics over a drone attack in central Tel Aviv that killed one person and was claimed by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen.
Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir made the following statement regarding the attack in Tel Aviv: “If you accept rockets being fired at Kiryat Shimona (in the north) and Sderot (around Gaza), then they will also fire at Tel Aviv Aviv. We can and must change our perception. That is why I insist on being at the table where decisions are made on behalf of Israel.”
The leader of the main opposition Future Party and former Prime Minister Yair Lapid criticized the Tel Aviv drone attack, saying it was evidence that the government did not know how to ensure the safety of Israeli citizens.
Avigdor Liberman, leader of the Israel Our Home Party, said that those who were unable to prevent missiles fired towards the north and the Red Sea coast should not be surprised by the attack in Tel Aviv.
Arguing that the attack in Tel Aviv was the result of the government’s policy of control and surrender, which does not want to wake up from the events of October 7, Liberman said, “The Middle East is the wildest jungle in the world. We must act differently here.”
Yair Golan, leader of the Meretz-Labor Bloc of opposition parties united in Israel, stressed that the drone attack showed the government’s complete fiasco and that elections should be held to restore security.
| Detail | What Happened? |
|---|---|
| Drone Attack | A powerful explosion caused by a drone strike occurred at 03:00 local time near the US Embassy in central Tel Aviv, killing one person and injuring four. |
| Houthis’ Statement | The Houthis in Yemen announced that they targeted Tel Aviv with a new UAV called “Jaffa” that cannot be detected by radars and blocked by air defense systems. |
| Israeli Army | The occupying Israeli army stated that its airborne radar systems detected the UAV but did not classify it as a threat and that attack sirens did not sound. It admitted that the UAV was not destroyed. |
