The controversy over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rapid evacuation from a Likud campaign rally and his rapid return to the stage moments after rockets were fired at the southern Israeli cities of Ashkelon and Ashdod continued on Wednesday.
Numerous politicians from across the political spectrum commented on the incident, which was broadcast live on the Likud's Facebook page and later removed. Blue and White party leader and former IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi took to Twitter after the sirens were sounded to say, "We don't run. We are committed, and we are here, carrying on with a conference in Ashkelon as usual. We are not afraid, not of Hamas and not of Hezbollah."
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The No. 4 on Yemina's list, former Education Minister Naftali Bennett tweeted, "This is a national humiliation."
Government ministers from the Likud were busy responding to the attacks on Netanyahu.
In an interview with Israel Radio, Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz said, "He has to obey the orders of the Shin Bet security agency and must be evacuated to a safe room, he has no discretion. I, personally, as a figure with a security detail, asked to remain at the conference, but I was met with an outright refusal and was escorted with the prime minister."
Katz continued, "It may be that Hamas is joining Abu Mazen [Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas] and the Iranian axis when it wants to harm Netanyahu's chances of being elected. The public knows that there is a bold and assertive policy on Iran and its emissaries. And we know how to stabilize all of the fronts, including [the] Gaza [Strip]."
Meanwhile, on its Facebook page, the Likud party blasted Blue and White, calling the party's attacks on Netanyahu "the low point of the elections: Three former IDF chiefs of staff rejoicing over fire [being directed] at Israel's prime minister. Shame!"
In an interview with Army Radio, Tourism Minister Yariv Levin said Netanyahu "in a responsible manner, asks the audience to quietly evacuate to a fortified room and then evacuates himself. Ashkenazi stands haughtily in front of a sizable crowd and declares, 'There's no need to evacuate.' So who will you trust to protect your children?"
