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Wednesday, an unsigned statement attributed to a "top Israeli official" was quoted by Israeli media.
“Israeli citizens, and not anyone else, elect the prime minister,” the statement said.
“Israel is not a protectorate of the US but an independent and democratic country whose citizens are the ones who choose the government.
“We expect our friends to act to overthrow the terror regime of Hamas and not the elected government in Israel.”
Israeli media did not name the source but the country’s Channel 12 described the statement as coming from “the most senior Israeli political source you can imagine”. //
The White House's hope to replace Netanyahu with former Defense Minister and Netanyahu rival Benny Gantz took a shot to the teeth Monday—Gantz, who is perceived as much softer on Hamas and the Palestinian Authority than Netanyahu. Perhaps prompted by the US intelligence slam at Netanyahu, Gideon Sa'ar, the former Likud member who now leads the "New Hope" party as part of Gantz's opposition, decided to abandon the opposition coalition and seek closer ties with Netanyahu.