Former prime minister Naftali Bennett sharply criticized the government’s handling of security in northern Israel on Saturday, accusing it of reverting to a policy of “containment” amid a sharp escalation in Hezbollah rocket fire that included a direct missile hit in central Kiryat Shmona.
“Residents of the north endured yet another weekend of lawlessness. They deserve to live in security, just like in Tel Aviv,” Bennett said in a statement, referring to repeated rocket alerts that sent residents across northern communities scrambling to shelters throughout the weekend.
Calling the government’s response inadequate, Bennett said, “This is not a victory. This is not Zionism. This is not an appropriate response.”
He added that Beirut’s Dahiya district “must tremble until security returns to the north” and called for a combination of full operational freedom for the IDF and intensified regional diplomacy involving Saudi Arabia and Gulf states. Bennett also attacked the coalition, saying it was “incapable” of restoring security.
Eisenkot: ‘This is not a ceasefire, this is a war’
Former IDF chief of staff and Yashar! Party leader Gadi Eisenkot also lashed out at the government, arguing that Hezbollah’s continued attacks reflected a failure of leadership rather than an unavoidable reality.
“Northern Israel and the security of its residents are not abandoned, and Hezbollah fire on Israel every 22 minutes on average on Saturday is not fate – it is a lack of leadership,” Eisenkot said. He described the attacks as “a direct result of Netanyahu and his government’s inability to make decisions, initiate, plan, and execute.”
“This is not a ceasefire; this is a war with only one side participating,” Eisenkot added, calling for the government to authorize broad military action against Hezbollah throughout Lebanon without restrictions. He also accused ministers of focusing on political controversies instead of addressing the needs of northern residents.
צפון ישראל ובטחון תושביו אינם הפקר וירי של חיזבאללה על ישראל כל 22 דקות בממוצע בשבת- הם לא גזירת גורל, הם היעדר מנהיגות!
תוצאה ישירה של חוסר היכולת של נתניהו וממשלתו לקבל החלטות, ליזום, לתכנן ולממש.
זו לא הפסקת אש, זו מלחמה בנוכחות צד אחד.ממשלה אחראית שרק ביטחון ישראל לנגד…
— Gadi Eisenkot – גדי איזנקוט (@gadi_eisenkot) May 30, 2026
Kiryat Shmona Deputy Mayor Ze’evik Zweigi also voiced frustration, threatening to leave Likud if the government fails to improve the security situation within a month. He said a direct missile strike on a shopping center overnight caused extensive property damage and argued that residents of the city have not experienced a true ceasefire despite official declarations.
Hezbollah barrage strikes North as IDF issues Lebanon evacuation warnings
A direct Hezbollah missile strike hit the center of Kiryat Shmona overnight Saturday, causing significant damage to businesses and shops but no reported casualties.
The attack came amid a broader barrage targeting northern Israel. A video shared by Army Radio showed rockets landing off the coast of Nahariya, sending beachgoers running for shelter. The IDF said several projectiles aimed at Nahariya were intercepted or fell in open areas. Hezbollah also launched rockets toward Karmiel in what was reported to be the deepest attack by the terror group since the ceasefire took effect roughly a month ago.
Earlier Saturday, IDF Arabic spokesperson Col. (res.) Avichay Adraee issued evacuation warnings for residents of Meyfoudoun, Shoueikin, and Zibdeen in southern Lebanon, instructing them to move north of the Zahrani River as Israeli troops prepared operations against Hezbollah targets in the area. The military also warned that it was preparing for the possibility of intensified fire from Lebanon as operations advanced.
Meanwhile, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam accused Israel of pursuing “a policy of mass expulsion” in southern Lebanon, claiming Israeli actions were violating Lebanese sovereignty and erasing parts of the country’s history. Salam nevertheless said negotiations with Israel represented the least costly option for Lebanon and stressed that Beirut was leading the talks on behalf of all Lebanese citizens.
Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.
