Olmert says Netanyahu losing power

Ehud Olmert endorsed Gadi Eisenkot and his Yashar Party on Tuesday, stating that the former defense minister is the most mature and ready candidate among the opposition. Olmert made these remarks in an interview with Al-Arabiya English as Israel prepares to hold its 2026 elections on October 27.

The former prime minister described the upcoming vote as potentially the most consequential in the modern history of the Jewish state. He argued that voters are trying to protect Israeli democracy and the standing of the Supreme Court. Olmert claimed that the opposition leaders, including Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid, and Yair Golan, all stand on the right side of history, a position he says Netanyahu does not share.

Citing polling data, Olmert said that Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to lose between one-third and 40 percent of his current political power. He called this potential loss absolutely considerable. Olmert also criticized a recent social media post by the prime minister, in which Netanyahu shared an AI-generated image of a nuclear explosion over Tel Aviv two days before the election. The prime minister had claimed that Israel faced an existential threat from Iran and that national security depended on the result. Olmert labeled the post a sign of desperation and an atmosphere of panic.

The former leader also disputed Netanyahu's claims regarding Iran's nuclear program. Olmert called it an outright lie to say that Iran had several atomic bombs when Israel attacked in June 2025 or in early 2026. He stated that Iran had material enriched to 60 percent stored underground, but that it never possessed a bomb, nor did Israel destroy one.

Despite acknowledging the failures of the defense system on October 7, Olmert said Israel defeated Hezbollah in the north, Hamas in the south, and Iran. On the Palestinian issue, he urged Israel to pursue a two-state solution, which he called the best possible option for the state. He held Netanyahu responsible for the policies that preceded the October 7 massacre, noting that the prime minister preferred an understanding with Hamas over negotiations with the Palestinian Authority.

Olmert warned Israeli political, army, and police leaders about settler violence in the West Bank. He said that if they fail to deal with what he termed Jewish terror, they will be held legally responsible for the crimes committed there, potentially before the International Criminal Court. He closed his comments by appealing to voters to change the direction of the country.

We have to change, and we can change,