Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid and National Unity chairman Benny Gantz issued a joint statement calling on Likud ministers not to accept the position of defense minister instead of the fired minister Yoav Gallant.

"The security of the state cannot be a card in the political game. Netanyahu crossed a line tonight. We call on the Likud ministers, the members of the Knesset of the Likud, do not lend a hand to the crushing of national security. Whoever assumes the role of Minister of Defense will bring disgrace upon himself. The eyes of the people are on you Hopefully it is still possible to stop this," Lapid and Gantz said.