1,200 Deaths Cite in Likud Split: Netanyahu's Cousin Quits After 4 Years

Nathan Netanyahu, a professor at Bar-Ilan University and cousin of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, formally ended his membership in the Likud party on Tuesday evening. In a letter published on X/Twitter, he cited the death of approximately 1,200 civilians and security personnel in the October 7, 2023 attack as a primary reason for his departure. He stated that the party has abandoned its original values and inflicted a deep national rift on the country.

The professor identified four specific failures in the moral and public sphere that he believes render the government unworthy of public trust. He listed the judicial reform process, the security breakdown on October 7, the failure to support citizens, and the refusal to accept responsibility for these events. Nathan described these actions as having corrupted the governing culture and deepened societal division.

Regarding the judicial reforms, Nathan referred to the process as a coup d'etat. He noted that in an April 2023 speech, he warned about dangers to judicial independence, citing values he learned from his mother, Supreme Court Justice Shoshana Netanyahu. He argued that the government sought to concentrate power and empty control mechanisms, leading to a shattering of national cohesion. He stated that senior security officials had warned of the security dangers posed by the political divisions.

The October 7 attack marked the end of the security policy led by the prime minister for years. Nathan wrote that the strategy of containing Hamas through economic concessions and funds from Qatar was shattered. He asserted that under this policy, the terrorist organization grew stronger and prepared for the attack. He described the event as the worst disaster to hit Israel since its founding, noting that towns were occupied, families were massacred, and 251 people were kidnapped to Gaza.

Nathan accused the government of violating the covenant between the state and its citizens. He pointed to continued incompetence in education, health, and transportation, which became more evident after the attack when citizens and volunteers filled a governmental vacuum. He also criticized the handling of the Haredi draft exemption, noting that reservists have left their families and livelihoods while the government allocates large sums to ultra-Orthodox parties to maintain the coalition. He argued this practice tramples on the principle of equality of burden.

A central point of contention for voters is the refusal to establish a state commission of inquiry into October 7. Nathan noted that more than three years have passed since the massacre without such a committee, despite widespread public support. He argued that government responsibility requires accountability to the public, regardless of criminal guilt. He questioned why the greatest national disaster does not require a state investigation.

The letter marks a break from a political lineage that includes his mother, a former Supreme Court justice, and his cousin, the current prime minister. Nathan stated he will consider renewing his membership only when a leadership untainted by these shortcomings is elected. He concluded the letter by referencing the prophet Amos, stating that for three crimes of the government, and for four, he will not choose them.

The announcement comes as the country remains engaged in an ongoing campaign on several fronts. Nathan noted that Israel's international standing has declined and its propaganda has failed in the battle for global public opinion. The war has resulted in hundreds of dead and tens of thousands wounded in body and mind, a price he attributed to the government's long-term decisions.