Former friend urges military action as Netanyahu faces widening political backlash

Published May 27, 2026 by The Daily Scout

- Writer Eyal Megged said on May 26 he would welcome a military coup against Benjamin Netanyahu, in remarks broadcast by Israeli radio station 103FM. - The clearest line was Megged’s: “I would be happy if there were a military coup against Netanyahu,” as Foreign Policy urged winding down U.S. aid. - Foreign Policy’s May 26 essay and Megged’s 103FM remarks are public, named markers of the debate now surrounding Netanyahu.

Why it matters

Writer Eyal Megged said on May 26 that he “would be happy if there were a military coup against Netanyahu,” according to remarks reported by The Jerusalem Post from an interview on Israeli radio station 103FM. The comments put unusually explicit anti-government rhetoric into Israel’s mainstream public conversation at a time when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is already facing sustained criticism over the conduct of the war and the direction of his government. On the same day, Foreign Policy published an essay arguing that the United States should wind down military aid to Israel and stop being “liable for Israeli misdeeds.” The two interventions came from very different arenas — Israeli cultural commentary and Washington foreign-policy debate — but both added to the pressure around Netanyahu’s wartime leadership. ### Who is Eyal Megged, and what exactly did he say? Eyal Megged was described by The Jerusalem Post as a writer and a former friend of Netanyahu. In the 103FM interview cited by the paper, Megged said: “I would be happy if there were a military coup against Netanyahu. We cannot continue with this madness. How much longer?” The Jerusalem Post also reported that Megged said, “If my cat took power instead of Bibi, it would be better for the country,” and accused Netanyahu of deciding “that he is destroying us.” The paper said the exchange aired as part of a radio discussion that also included a defense of Netanyahu from another participant. (jpost.com) ### Does this point to an actual coup threat inside Israel? (jpost.com) The available reporting points to rhetoric, not evidence of an organized military move. The Jerusalem Post report presented Megged’s remarks as a political outburst by a public intellectual and former associate of the prime minister, not as an indication of action by the Israel Defense Forces. (jpost.com) Recent Jerusalem Post coverage has separately described tensions around the military and political leadership, including scrutiny of relations between Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir. But that reporting does not describe a coup effort, and no authoritative source surfaced in this reporting indicating one. ### Why did the Foreign Policy essay matter the same day? (jpost.com) Foreign Policy published an essay on May 26 under the headline “Why the U.S. Should Wind Down Military Aid to Israel.” The article argued that Washington should no longer remain responsible for Israeli conduct and placed the debate in the context of earlier U.S. political arguments over conditioning or cutting aid. (jpost.com) The essay did not come from Israeli domestic politics. Its significance was that criticism of Netanyahu’s government was being framed not only as an Israeli leadership issue, but also as a U.S. policy question involving military assistance. Foreign Policy’s own presentation of the piece described it as an argument that the United States should no longer be “liable for Israeli misdeeds.” (foreignpolicy.com) ### Is this part of a broader pattern of criticism around Netanyahu? The Jerusalem Post has recently carried other sharp criticism from Netanyahu opponents. In a separate May 2026 report, former defense minister Avigdor Liberman accused Netanyahu of prioritizing personal legal interests over national security and ruled out joining a future coalition with ultra-Orthodox parties. (foreignpolicy.com) Foreign Policy has also published a series of essays in 2026 questioning Israel’s wartime strategy, including pieces on the costs of its wars and on what one author called the failure of Israel’s post-Oct. 7 security doctrine. Those essays do not represent official U.S. policy, but they show that debate over Netanyahu’s approach is active in U.S. policy circles as well as in Israel. (jpost.com) ### What should readers watch next? May 26 is the key date in this episode: Megged’s 103FM remarks were reported that day, and Foreign Policy’s aid essay was published the same day. The next concrete signs to watch are whether Netanyahu, his office, or senior Israeli ministers respond directly to Megged’s comments, and whether U.S. officials or lawmakers pick up the military-aid argument in public statements or legislation. (jpost.com) (foreignpolicy.com)

Key numbers

Writer Eyal Megged said on May 26 he would welcome a military coup against Benjamin Netanyahu, in remarks broadcast by Israeli radio station 103FM.
Foreign Policy’s May 26 essay and Megged’s 103FM remarks are public, named markers of the debate now surrounding Netanyahu.
Writer Eyal Megged said on May 26 that he “would be happy if there were a military coup against Netanyahu,” according to remarks reported by The Jerusalem Post from an interview on Israeli radio station 103FM.
In the 103FM interview cited by the paper, Megged said: “I would be happy if there were a military coup against Netanyahu.

What happens next

Writer Eyal Megged said on May 26 that he “would be happy if there were a military coup against Netanyahu,” according to remarks reported by The Jerusalem Post from an interview on Israeli radio station 103FM.
(jpost.com) Foreign Policy published an essay on May 26 under the headline “Why the U.S.
In a separate May 2026 report, former defense minister Avigdor Liberman accused Netanyahu of prioritizing personal legal interests over national security and ruled out joining a future coalition with ultra-Orthodox parties.

Sources

Quick answers

What happened in Former friend urges military action as Netanyahu faces widening political backlash?

Writer Eyal Megged said on May 26 he would welcome a military coup against Benjamin Netanyahu, in remarks broadcast by Israeli radio station 103FM. The clearest line was Megged’s: “I would be happy if there were a military coup against Netanyahu,” as Foreign Policy urged winding down U.S. aid. Foreign Policy’s May 26 essay and Megged’s 103FM remarks are public, named markers of the debate now surrounding Netanyahu.

Why does Former friend urges military action as Netanyahu faces widening political backlash matter?

Writer Eyal Megged said on May 26 that he “would be happy if there were a military coup against Netanyahu,” according to remarks reported by The Jerusalem Post from an interview on Israeli radio station 103FM. The comments put unusually explicit anti-government rhetoric into Israel’s mainstream public conversation at a time when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is already facing sustained criticism over the conduct of the war and the direction of his government. On the same day, Foreign Policy published an essay arguing that the United States should wind down military aid to Israel and stop being “liable for Israeli misdeeds.” The two interventions came from very different arenas — Israeli cultural commentary and Washington foreign-policy debate — but both added to the pressure around Netanyahu’s wartime leadership. Who is Eyal Megged, and what exactly did he say? Eyal Megged was described by The Jerusalem Post as a writer and a former friend of Netanyahu. In the 103FM interview cited by the paper, Megged said: “I would be happy if there were a military coup against Netanyahu. We cannot continue with this madness. How much longer?” The Jerusalem Post also reported that Megged said, “If my cat took power instead of Bibi, it would be better for the country,” and accused Netanyahu of deciding “that he is destroying us.” The paper said the exchange aired as part of a radio discussion that also included a defense of Netanyahu from another participant. (jpost.com) Does this point to an actual coup threat inside Israel? (jpost.com) The available reporting points to rhetoric, not evidence of an organized military move. The Jerusalem Post report presented Megged’s remarks as a political outburst by a public intellectual and former associate of the prime minister, not as an indication of action by the Israel Defense Forces. (jpost.com) Recent Jerusalem Post coverage has separately described tensions around the military and political leadership, including scrutiny of relations between Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir. But that reporting does not describe a coup effort, and no authoritative source surfaced in this reporting indicating one. Why did the Foreign Policy essay matter the same day? (jpost.com) Foreign Policy published an essay on May 26 under the headline “Why the U.S. Should Wind Down Military Aid to Israel.” The article argued that Washington should no longer remain responsible for Israeli conduct and placed the debate in the context of earlier U.S. political arguments over conditioning or cutting aid. (jpost.com) The essay did not come from Israeli domestic politics. Its significance was that criticism of Netanyahu’s government was being framed not only as an Israeli leadership issue, but also as a U.S. policy question involving military assistance. Foreign Policy’s own presentation of the piece described it as an argument that the United States should no longer be “liable for Israeli misdeeds.” (foreignpolicy.com) Is this part of a broader pattern of criticism around Netanyahu? The Jerusalem Post has recently carried other sharp criticism from Netanyahu opponents. In a separate May 2026 report, former defense minister Avigdor Liberman accused Netanyahu of prioritizing personal legal interests over national security and ruled out joining a future coalition with ultra-Orthodox parties. (foreignpolicy.com) Foreign Policy has also published a series of essays in 2026 questioning Israel’s wartime strategy, including pieces on the costs of its wars and on what one author called the failure of Israel’s post-Oct. 7 security doctrine. Those essays do not represent official U.S. policy, but they show that debate over Netanyahu’s approach is active in U.S. policy circles as well as in Israel. (jpost.com) What should readers watch next? May 26 is the key date in this episode: Megged’s 103FM remarks were reported that day, and Foreign Policy’s aid essay was published the same day. The next concrete signs to watch are whether Netanyahu, his office, or senior Israeli ministers respond directly to Megged’s comments, and whether U.S. officials or lawmakers pick up the military-aid argument in public statements or legislation. (jpost.com) (foreignpolicy.com)