Netanyahu Denies Betrayal on October 7, Blames Intelligence Failure

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated in a social media video that there was no "betrayal" on October 7, but rather a "major failure" due to a miscalculation by security officials who decided not to wake him during the Hamas attack. He dismissed claims of betrayal as "nonsense," adding that his wife, Sara Netanyahu, also did not claim there was betrayal. Netanyahu asserted that while it was a failure with "terrible prices," it was not treason.

In response, Yair Golan, a former IDF deputy chief of staff and current political figure, criticized Netanyahu's statement, calling it "stuttering in the face of blood libels." Golan stated that Netanyahu "knows perfectly well there was no betrayal" and that true leaders apologize to soldiers and condemn lies, rather than minimizing damage. He contrasted Netanyahu's actions with his own, claiming he went out to save lives on October 7 while Netanyahu "froze."

Netanyahu has never formally taken responsibility for the October 7 massacre, despite critics arguing his policies allowed Hamas to strengthen. The Likud party's election campaign has suggested that if security officials had alerted Netanyahu, the outcome of the attack might have been different. Critics, however, contend that Netanyahu bears responsibility for allowing both Hamas and Hezbollah to establish themselves on Israel's borders over the years without decisive action.

This exchange follows a controversial interview by Sara Netanyahu on Channel 14, where she implied Yair Golan knew about the impending attack in advance, suggesting he was prepared early on October 7 while others, including the Prime Minister, were not. Golan responded by sending a legal notice threatening a defamation lawsuit for 2.5 million shekels, demanding a public apology and a donation to October 7 survivors. Sara Netanyahu denied the accusation, stating she merely "stated facts" and demanded an apology from Golan for his subsequent remarks.