Former Defense Minister Benny Gantz accused the current government of causing a "security disaster" through the actions of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich during the weekly National Unity party faction meeting Monday.
"These days, there is no government in Israel – there is chaos," Gantz said. “Those who are accused of terrorism and incitement are sitting at the government table and in the cabinet under Netanyahu’s auspices, and are harming the deep security interests of the State of Israel.”
He added: “I am deeply concerned that we are facing a security disaster, and there are parts of this government which are fueling terrorism."
Gantz singled out for criticism the 'moderate' members of the Likud party who tolerate those he accused of "setting fire" to the country.
Gantz's statement follows a terrorist shooting attack in Samaria in which two young Israeli men were murdered yesterday, the latest in a spate of terrorist attacks in the last month which have left 13 Israelis dead.
Following the deadly attack, a group of Jewish rioters torched cars and buildings in the Arab village of Huwara, where the attack was committed.
MK Zvika Fogel, of Itamar Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit party, praised the rioters and said that their actions created the deterrence which the Israeli government and security forces have failed to do.
“What residents of Judea and Samaria did last night in Huwara was to create the strongest deterrent the State of Israel has had since Defensive Shield,” MK Fogel told told Galei Yisrael radio Monday morning.
“After murders like those yesterday, when the army doesn’t take action, villages need to burn," he said. “Yesterday a terrorist went out in Huwara, so Huwara should be shuttered and burned. That is what I want to see. That is the only way we will attain deterrence.”
Arab media claimed that hundreds of Jews rioted in Huwara Sunday night, torching some 50 cars and more than 15 buildings.