Iran war: Israel’s opposition leader attacks Netanyahu after ceasefire announcement

Israel’s opposition leader, Yair Lapid, has sharply criticised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following the announcement of a ceasefire agreement involving the United States, Iran, and their allies.

Lapid, in a post on X on Wednesday, described the development as a major political failure for Israel, claiming the country was excluded from key decisions affecting its security.

“There has never been such a political disaster in all of our history. Israel wasn’t even at the table when decisions were made concerning the core of our national security,” he wrote.

He acknowledged the role of Israel’s military and citizens but blamed the government for what he termed strategic shortcomings.

“The military carried out everything that was asked of it, the public demonstrated amazing resilience, but Netanyahu failed politically, failed strategically, and didn’t meet a single one of the goals that he himself set,” Lapid added.

The opposition leader further warned that the consequences of the situation could be long-lasting.

“It will take us years to repair the political and strategic damage that Netanyahu wrought due to arrogance, negligence, and a lack of strategic planning,” he said.

Lapid’s remarks come after Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that Iran, the United States, and their allies had agreed to an “immediate ceasefire” across multiple conflict zones, including Lebanon.

Sharif, in his own post on X, described the agreement as a significant step toward restoring peace.

“With the greatest humility, I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY,” he wrote.

The Pakistani leader also commended the parties involved for their engagement and expressed optimism about further diplomatic progress.

The ceasefire announcement is expected to ease tensions in the region and pave the way for broader negotiations, even as political reactions continue to emerge from key stakeholders, including within Israel.