Israeli opposition leaders Yair Golan and Gilad Kariv demanded on Wednesday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu step down, arguing that the Democrats’ sweeping victories in the United States midterm elections had exposed how damaged his standing in Washington has become.
The calls came a day after Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in Tuesday’s midterm vote, a result that has already drawn sharply different reactions from governments around the world. In Israel, the opposition seized on the outcome to argue that Netanyahu’s close alignment with President Donald Trump has left the country exposed.
Golan, leader of the opposition Democrats party, said the results had revealed “just how toxic Netanyahu is among both Democrats and Republicans.” Writing on social media platform X, he warned that Netanyahu’s continued rule alongside National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir could lead Israel toward “international sanctions, international isolation, and a clash with the US, our friend and most important ally.”
“Netanyahu lost the elections. He is dangerous to Israel. We have no time to waste. We must form a government of change now,” Golan said, according to reports of his post.
Kariv rejects a Netanyahu-led unity government
Gilad Kariv, a lawmaker from the Democrats party, also called for Netanyahu to leave office. He said the prime minister had “destroyed the relations with the Democratic Party and with half of the Republican Party” and added: “He must not continue to lead the State of Israel.”
Kariv went further, rejecting calls for a unity government led by Netanyahu. In a second post, he argued that the “dramatic blue wave” in the United States made it clear that Netanyahu’s continued rule, together with the annexationist policies championed by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, would “severely damage the existential interests of the State of Israel.”
“Netanyahu must leave the Prime Minister’s Office, and quickly,” Kariv said.
Lapid: no unity government under Netanyahu
Outgoing opposition leader Yair Lapid added his voice, saying the midterm results, together with the ongoing dispute between Shin Bet Director David Zini and Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara, had ruined any chance of forming a unity government with Netanyahu.
The remarks underline how Israel’s own unsettled politics are now colliding with the changed balance of power in Washington. Reports of the Knesset arithmetic put Netanyahu’s bloc at 53 seats in the 120-member parliament, compared with 48 for Jewish opposition parties and 19 for Arab parties, leaving neither main bloc with the 61 seats needed for a majority.
Why the midterm result matters in Jerusalem
The opposition’s argument rests on a simple claim: that Netanyahu tied Israel’s diplomatic security too closely to Trump and the Republican Party, and that the Democratic sweep has now priced that bet into a liability. Golan argued that the election proved Netanyahu’s approach had failed, while Kariv said there remained a mainstream in both American parties that Israel could work with — but not under a Netanyahu-Smotrich government.
What happens next is uncertain. The resignation demands are political pressure, not a parliamentary vote, and Netanyahu has given no indication of stepping down. But with Democrats now able to block legislation and launch investigations in Washington during the final two years of Trump’s term, Israeli politicians across the spectrum will be watching how the new Congress handles military aid, arms sales and regional policy.
For now, the opposition’s message is deliberately blunt: change the prime minister, it says, before the damage to Israel’s standing becomes harder to repair.
Related reading: China reacts cautiously to the Democrats’ sweep; Wall Street opens higher after the Democrats’ sweep; Khamenei warns of a broader response.
What is confirmed — and what is not
Confirmed: Golan and Kariv publicly called for Netanyahu to resign on Wednesday, 4 November, following the Democratic midterm victories, with the quotes above reported consistently across multiple outlets. The Knesset seat figures cited are as reported.
Not confirmed: whether the opposition can convert these demands into a change of government. No vote, resignation or coalition agreement has been reported, and Netanyahu’s response to the specific demands was not reported in the sources reviewed.
Frequently asked questions
Who called for Netanyahu to resign? Democrats party leader Yair Golan and Democrats lawmaker Gilad Kariv, both in posts on Wednesday following the US midterm results.
Why did they link the demand to the US midterms? They argued the Democratic sweep showed Netanyahu had become “toxic” across both US parties and that his continued rule risks isolation, sanctions and a clash with Israel’s most important ally.
Has Netanyahu resigned? No. The statements are demands from opposition figures, not a resignation, and no parliamentary vote to remove him has been reported.
What is the Knesset arithmetic? Netanyahu’s bloc holds 53 of 120 seats, Jewish opposition parties 48 and Arab parties 19, according to reports — short of the 61 needed for a majority for either main bloc.
Sources
Yeni Safak, “Israeli opposition demands Netanyahu resign after US midterms”, 4 November 2026: https://en.yenisafak.com/world/israeli-opposition-demands-netanyahu-resign-after-us-midterms-3725189
The Jerusalem Post, “Politicians accuse Benjamin Netanyahu of ruining ties with US Democratic Party”, 4 November 2026: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-913820
Express Tribune / Anadolu Agency, “Israeli opposition leaders say Netanyahu cannot remain in power after US midterm elections”, 4 November 2026: https://tribune.com.pk/story/2638611/israeli-opposition-leaders-say-netanyahu-cannot-remain-in-power-after-us-midterm-elections?amp=1
Haaretz, “‘Netanyahu Is Toxic in Washington’: Israeli Politicians React to Midterms”, 4 November 2026: https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-politics/2026-11-04/ty-article/.premium/netanyahu-is-toxic-in-washington-israeli-leaders-react-to-midterms/000001a1-a61c-d5c5-ade1-bf7f5daf0000
