Labor Party chairwoman MK Merav Michaeli criticized opposition leader Yair Lapid and National Unity party chairman Benny Gantz for stating that they would support the government's response to the firing of dozens of rockets at Israel by terrorists from Lebanon and Gaza over the first day of Passover.
"The role of the opposition is not to automatically back up the government, whose members walk around with a barrel of gasoline and try to set the place on fire. The opposite is true. It is our job to examine every incident with a magnifying glass to make sure that Israel's security is not compromised by extremist and irresponsible Kahanist ministers," Michaeli wrote on Twitter.
"The Labor Party supports the IDF and the security forces that do the hard work in the field. In any dispute between the IDF and the security forces, and the extremist and irresponsible government, the Labor Party will stand with the security establishment in order to strengthen the security of Israel's civilians," she added.
Earlier this evening, opposition leader and former Prime Minister Yair Lapid said in response to the rocket barrages: "Our enemies are wrong in their assessment of our internal resilience. When it comes to security, there is no opposition or coalition in the State of Israel. We will stand united against any enemy. The opposition will give the government full backing for a tough response by the IDF and the security forces."
He added: "Israel should respond at the time and place that are right for us. We should not play into the hands of those who are trying to inflame the region during the month of Ramadan. Instead of following the schedule of our enemies, we should respond with force and without mercy in accordance with the assessment of the developing situation by the security forces. I am sending reinforcements from here to the residents of the north, to the residents of the Gaza envelope, to the IDF, to the Israel Police and to all the people of Israel."
Former Defense Minister Benny Gantz also stated: "Facing terror that threatens our citizens, facing shooting on the houses of our citizens, there is no coalition and opposition – we are all united around the IDF and all of the security organization."