A day after announcing former IDF Major-General Yoav Galant would receive the second slot on the Kulanu party lineup headed by Moshe Kahlon, the former IDF deputy chief of staff expressed criticism over the government’s performance during Operation Protective Edge.

Speaking to a Channel 2 News program on Friday night, Galant explained that a limited military operation must be short, inexpensive and qualitative and Operation Protective Edge failed in all three areas. Galant praised the performance of soldiers and commanders, adding they had the necessary equipment to get the job done but the operation was too long, too expensive and it failed to achieve qualitative results.

Officials in the Likud campaign were quick to respond, explaining Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu ran the operation in conjunction with Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz. They pointed out the IDF delivered a devastating blow to Hamas and its terrorist infrastructure and did what was necessary to ensure the security of Israeli residents. Likud officials also praised the decision of the prime minister from several years earlier to arm Israel with thousands of Iron Dome rockets, foreseeing the need for them in the future.

Adding his measure of criticism during a Shabbos cultural event in Beersheva, Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid stated the prime minister acted irresponsibly by not demanding the demilitarization of Gaza as a condition for the ceasefire. Lapid stated that Norway heads the international committee overseeing the rehabilitation of Gaza and Israel should have attended these meetings and insisted that without the international community guaranteeing the total demilitarization of Gaza, there would not be any rehabilitation. “We should never permit infusing funds into Gaza without first seeing trucks laden with rockets leaving” he explained.

And not to miss the opportunity, The Movement leader Justice Minister Tzipi Livni spoke against the government handling of the operation during a Shabbos cultural event in Netanya. “I was there” she explained, as a senior member of the cabinet. She insists that she was able to rally the international community to Israel’s side to compel the demilitarization of Gaza and the return to the negotiating table on Israel’s conditions but Mr. Netanyahu missed that opportunity. Livni insists Israel could have prevented the PA joining the International Court of Justice and the condemnations against Israel from the UN.

“Netanyahu is weak and the world does not believe him. Abu Mazen realizes this and is taking advantage of this to against Israel. There is no reason we all have to pay the price. Herzog and me know how to restore Israel’s standing in the international community vis-à-vis the Palestinians and terrorism” concluded Livni.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)