Netanyahu's Role in the Israel-Gaza War: A Grave Error
The catastrophe that struck Israel on Simchat Torah rests squarely on the shoulders of Benjamin Netanyahu. Despite his claims of unparalleled political savvy and security expertise, he woefully misjudged the perils he was leading Israel into. His government of annexation and dispossession, coupled with the appointments of Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, revealed a callous disregard for Palestinian existence and rights.
Netanyahu may attempt to deflect blame onto the military and intelligence heads, reminiscent of the Yom Kippur War debacle. They underestimated the enemy and their offensive capabilities. In the coming days, as the extent of IDF and intelligence failures comes to light, the rightful demand for their replacement and a thorough reassessment will undoubtedly arise.However, Netanyahu cannot evade his overarching responsibility for this crisis. As the ultimate authority in Israeli foreign and security affairs, he holds the reins. Unlike novices such as Olmert in the Second Lebanon War, or those who feigned ignorance like Meir in 1973 and Begin in 1982, Netanyahu is well-versed in these matters.
He also crafted the policy embraced by Bennett and Lapid's short-lived "government of change" — a concerted effort to quash the Palestinian national movement in both Gaza and the West Bank, at a cost seemingly palatable to the Israeli public.Formerly portraying himself as a cautious leader, Netanyahu discarded this approach after his recent election victory. He shifted towards a "fully-right government," with brazen moves towards West Bank annexation, ethnic cleansing in designated Area C regions, and aggressive settlement expansion. This included provocative actions near the Al-Aqsa Mosque, as well as unfounded boasts of a peace deal with the Saudis that left the Palestinians empty-handed, all while openly discussing a potential "second Nakba" within his coalition. Predictably, tensions flared in the West Bank, paving the way for Hamas' surprise assault.
Above all, the profound threat to Israel materialized. A prime minister facing three corruption indictments cannot adequately attend to state affairs, as personal interests inevitably overshadow national ones. This motivated the formation of this calamitous coalition and the audacious judicial maneuvers by Netanyahu, resulting in the weakening of key military and intelligence figures perceived as political adversaries. Regrettably, it was the victims in the Western Negev who paid the price for this power play.
haaretz
