Political Commentators Clash Fiercely on Social Media

A heated public dispute erupted between prominent Israeli political commentators Amit Segal and Shlomi Eldar, primarily on social media platforms. The conflict began when Segal accused Eldar of consistently downplaying Hamas's threat and opposing military actions in Gaza over the years. Segal cited Eldar's past statements and a book he co-authored, claiming Eldar presented Hamas as less sinister and advocated for economic concessions rather than military responses.

Segal further alleged that Eldar's new book, co-written with Ruti Yuval, contained manipulative contradictions regarding the events leading to the October 7th Hamas attack. He specifically referenced Eldar's alleged opposition to assassinations of key Hamas figures like Yahya Ayyash and his stance against military operations in Gaza.

Eldar responded with sarcasm, suggesting Segal's campaign indicated the significant influence he and Yuval had on Prime Minister Netanyahu's policies. He humorously invited Netanyahu to meet, questioning why he wasn't privy to intelligence briefings or security discussions. Eldar also challenged Netanyahu's reluctance to form a state inquiry commission.

Countering Segal's factual claims, Eldar asserted that during Operation Protective Edge, he stated that assassinations were necessary to deter Hamas. He also pointed to his book, 'Knowing Hamas,' where he dedicated a chapter to the effectiveness of assassinating leaders like Ahmed Yassin and Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi. Eldar then escalated the personal attacks, questioning if Segal's worldview was shaped by his father being a convicted terrorist and accusing Segal of transitioning from journalist to a government propagandist, noting Segal's alleged failure to criticize Prime Minister Netanyahu over two decades.

Eldar concluded by characterizing Segal's behavior as a 'tantrum' in response to his recent revelations.