Israeli Politicians Urged to Account for Failures Ahead of Elections

As Israel approaches the election date, a commentary urges politicians to conduct "soul searching" and account for past failures rather than simply seeking renewed public trust. The piece criticizes the current campaign as "soulless" and calls for accountability from elected officials.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is specifically called upon to apologize to the ultra-Orthodox community for failing to fulfill promises regarding the status of Torah scholars. He is also urged to reflect on the failures leading up to and during the October 7th war, as well as his "grandiose promises" of "absolute victory" made early in the conflict. The article also points out a contradiction in Netanyahu's campaign messaging, which simultaneously calls for a broad national government while labeling political opponents as dangerous "leftists" or "Arabs," despite potentially needing their support later.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is also critiqued for his handling of the economic fallout from the war. The article argues that the public is not being made aware of the true economic situation, with the focus instead on issues like military promotions and pensions, while the needs of reservist families are sidelined. The piece suggests that politicians avoid addressing the difficult economic realities, such as potential tax hikes or budget cuts, preferring instead to focus on divisive issues like the recruitment of the ultra-Orthodox.

The commentary also touches upon former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who is urged to apologize for re-entering politics after his previous government collapsed, having "lied to all sides." Former Prime Minister Yair Lapid is noted as having shown some self-awareness by accepting a less prominent role in potential future coalitions, unlike Bennett, who is portrayed as acting as if his past actions were inconsequential.

Finally, the article briefly mentions Netanyahu's upcoming speech at the UN General Assembly, suggesting it will focus on Iran and serve to bolster his domestic political standing during the election campaign, despite the rising global antisemitism and the difficult international political climate for Israel. The piece concludes by lamenting that Israeli politics continues its course, seemingly detached from the war and the country's precarious global standing.