Netanyahu's Wife's Remarks on Golan Fuel Conspiracy Theories

Following the October 7th Hamas attacks, a conspiracy theory suggesting "betrayal" within Israel has gained traction, with analyst Nir Barkat suggesting Sarah Netanyahu amplified this narrative to discredit Yair Golan and deflect blame from her husband, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Barkat argues that such theories often emerge when people struggle to process large-scale events that challenge their worldview, citing historical examples like the JFK assassination and the 9/11 attacks in the US, and the assassinations of Yitzhak Rabin and Chaim Arlosoroff in Israel.

Sarah Netanyahu publicly questioned why Yair Golan, then a prominent political figure and former IDF general, was "dressed and ready" early on October 7th, implying he might have had prior knowledge of the impending attack. Barkat posits that the sheer scale of the Hamas assault, which overwhelmed Israel's formidable military and intelligence capabilities, made it difficult for many to accept that Hamas had simply outmaneuvered them. This led to the widespread belief that a "betrayal" must have occurred.

Barkat traces the roots of this narrative to a prevailing political and intelligence assessment that Hamas was not interested in a full-scale war, a view largely shared by politicians, military leaders, and the media. He criticizes media outlets for their pre-October 7th coverage, which often projected an image of Israeli invincibility, making the subsequent failure even harder to comprehend. The analyst suggests that the public found it easier to believe in a secret conspiracy than to accept that a flawed political and intelligence strategy, coupled with operational failures, led to the massacre.

Comparing the current situation to the historical assassination of Chaim Arlosoroff, Barkat notes how political factions exploited the event. He asserts that while the Netanyahu family may not have invented these "betrayal" theories, they actively promoted them to reduce Benjamin Netanyahu's responsibility for the failures of October 7th. By framing the event as a conspiracy, the Prime Minister's culpability is lessened.

Barkat explains that while Netanyahu himself offered ambiguous statements, his inner circle and allies, including Minister Shlomo Karhi, escalated the insinuations against Golan. Sarah Netanyahu's questioning of Golan's readiness and Karhi's subsequent remarks, despite lacking direct evidence and Karhi's denial of being a conspiracy theorist, fueled the snowball effect. Barkat believes Sarah Netanyahu's comments were not accidental but a calculated use of an existing theory that served her husband's political interests, potentially violating reputation protection laws. He concludes that while Golan's political views may be disagreeable, his actions on October 7th saved lives, a fact he contrasts with the perceived inaction of some Netanyahu government ministers.