Media Personality Links Hamas Attack to Political Boycott of Netanyahu

Media personality and researcher Avishai Ben-Haim ignited a significant political and public controversy over the weekend with a strong assertion that the political boycott of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his supporters was a direct cause of the October 7th Hamas attacks.

Ben-Haim argued that the categorical exclusion of the right-wing and traditional Israeli public led to the societal divisions seen in recent years. "If there wasn't the boycott? If there wasn't the boycott, there wouldn't have been October 7th," he stated.

He elaborated that the boycott of "Israel the Second" and the "Bibist" public, which he described as representing the core of "sweet traditionalism," was the catalyst. Ben-Haim employed the arguments of government critics who blame the judicial reform for national division. "Our brothers from the left blame us for causing the destruction of October 7th, because we tore the nation apart with the judicial reform," he explained. "So let's answer according to the method of the accusers, who are also the boycotters: If there hadn't been the boycott, there would have been a broad government. And if there had been a broad government, there would have been no possibility to enact judicial reform, and no such rift in the nation."

Ben-Haim expressed the connection to the national disaster more cautiously towards the end of his remarks, suggesting, "And if there hadn't been such a rift in the nation, then perhaps, perhaps, hopefully... there wouldn't have been October 7th."

He concluded by calling for an immediate end to personal and political exclusions, emphasizing that "unity and reconciliation are necessary. Israel's unity is not only of value and spiritual significance, it also has strategic security significance. It is possible that if there hadn't been the boycott, there wouldn't have been October 7th."