Haaretz Journalist Questions Impact of Pre-Oct. 7 Intelligence on Netanyahu

Haaretz journalist Josh Breiner has suggested that even if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had passed on intelligence received before the October 7th Hamas attack to the security establishment, the outcome might not have changed. Breiner stated on the social media platform X that regardless of whether the information was classified, "nothing would have changed if Netanyahu had passed MBZ's words to the security system."

He elaborated that the Shin Bet had immediate intelligence from Soufian Abu Zaida, the army possessed the Jericho Walls document and received observation alerts, and the National Security Council apparently received a warning from Egyptian intelligence. Breiner argued that despite these warnings, the entire security apparatus, including Netanyahu, was "invested and immersed in the conception that Hamas was deterred." Consequently, he asserted, they refused to believe the signs even on the morning of October 7th.

Breiner emphasized that his assertion does not absolve the Prime Minister of responsibility. He pointed to a distinction between Netanyahu and the heads of the IDF and Shin Bet at the time of the attack. "It is important, of course, to know that Netanyahu also ignored the warnings and how much he failed in his role, and it is clear that he is the head of the system who is to blame, but I doubt if anything would have actually changed," Breiner wrote.

He contrasted Netanyahu's actions with those of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, stating, "The only difference: Ronen Bar took responsibility and went home, Herzi Halevi took responsibility and went home, only Netanyahu continues to deny responsibility and continues to claim that without him Israel will collapse, even after his failures brought upon us the greatest disaster in the country's history."