According to CoinMeta, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu stated in a television interview on October 23 that he is considering using cryptocurrencies to circumvent economic sanctions imposed on Israel by other countries. In response, Netanyahu's rival, Gad Eizenkot, the leader of the Right Wing Party, criticized the next day, saying that Netanyahu's approach would lead to Israel's international isolation and economic sanctions, destroying the national economy and market. Eizenkot also said on social media that Netanyahu's vision for virtual currencies posed a threat to national security.