“We have never seen such a political catastrophe in our history. Israel was not even present when decisions were made about the core of our national security,” Lapid said on X.
“It will take years to repair the political and strategic damage caused by Netanyahu due to his arrogance, negligence and lack of strategic planning,” he added.
Lapid added that while the military and the public fulfilled their roles, the government failed to achieve its objectives.
Read: FM blames Israel for torpedoing talks
“The army carried out everything it was asked to do, and the people showed extraordinary resilience, but Netanyahu failed politically and strategically and did not achieve any of the goals he set for himself,” he said.
His remarks came after Netanyahu’s office said Israel supports US President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend military strikes against Iran for two weeks.
However, Netanyahu’s office said the two-week ceasefire “does not include Lebanon.”
Trump announced on Tuesday that he agreed “to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks.”
Ceasefire acceptance
The United States and Iran have agreed to a two‑week ceasefire in the ongoing conflict following mediation efforts led by Pakistan. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced early Wednesday that both sides, along with their allies, have accepted an immediate halt to hostilities, marking a temporary de‑escalation after weeks of escalating tensions in the region.
The agreement came just hours before Trump’s deadline for destroying an “entire civilisation”, with Iran also agreeing to reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz to ensure safe passage for global oil shipments. Both Washington and Tehran have been invited to Islamabad for further talks on April 10 to work toward a more lasting settlement.
The ceasefire is being touted by leaders as an opportunity to build trust and move discussions forward, though sceptics say it may simply buy time rather than resolve deep‑seated issues. Even as pockets of tension remain, global markets reacted positively to the news, with oil prices easing and stock futures rising on hopes that broader peace negotiations could finally take shape.