Ex-National Security Advisor Eyed Existential Threat Before Oct. 7
Former National Security Council head Giora Eiland revealed that former head of Military Intelligence, Aharon Haliva, warned of a potential large-scale war in the summer of 2023, two months before the October 7th Hamas attack. Eiland stated that Haliva convened a meeting of eight former senior intelligence officials, including four former heads of Military Intelligence, to discuss his updated assessment. Haliva cited Iran's growing military capabilities and the operational readiness of terror groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, as well as the internal crisis in Israel surrounding the judicial overhaul, as reasons for his changed assessment.
Eiland, after reviewing intelligence on Iran and Hezbollah, became deeply concerned about the technological might of Israel's enemies, concluding that Israel could face an "existential war" by early 2024. He subsequently met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on August 16, 2023, to convey his concerns. During their private meeting, Eiland presented the security risks and also offered proposals for compromise on the judicial reform, believing that resolving the internal crisis would strengthen Israel against external threats.
Eiland's account adds another layer to the warnings Netanyahu allegedly received before October 7th. While acknowledging Haliva's responsibility, Eiland emphasized that the political leadership also bears responsibility. He noted that Haliva identified the growing danger months prior, and Eiland himself, after assessing the intelligence, warned the Prime Minister directly. This testimony raises questions about how many warnings Netanyahu received and what actions were taken, particularly in light of Netanyahu's past statements that he would have acted differently if presented with a clear warning.
This revelation follows a recent report in Haaretz claiming that UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed warned Netanyahu of an impending Hamas attack ten days before October 7th. While Netanyahu denies the conversation, the UAE confirmed it. Eiland's testimony, however, stands independently, suggesting that Netanyahu was indeed alerted to significant dangers well before the events of October 7th.
