Netanyahu's Blame Game Diverts Focus From Core Issues

A debate is raging in Israel over whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu withheld crucial information from the security establishment regarding a call from UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed ahead of the October 7th Hamas attack. However, the article argues that regardless of whether Netanyahu shared the call, both he and the security apparatus were deeply entrenched in a flawed strategic assumption: that Hamas did not want war.

According to the analysis, even if Netanyahu had relayed the conversation, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) would likely have dismissed it, categorizing it as another signal reinforcing the belief that "Hamas does not want war." Similarly, Netanyahu himself might have disregarded it, assuming it was a ploy and that discussions would resume in the morning.

The piece contends that this "conception" was so deeply ingrained that even a public declaration of war by Hamas leader Sinwar would not have altered the Israeli leadership's perception. The prevailing view was that Hamas prioritized economic stability, worker permits, and funding over military conflict at that time.

The article emphasizes two critical facts amidst the current heated discussion: Netanyahu was the Prime Minister on October 7th, and he is the only member of the senior security leadership who remains in his position. This suggests a broader systemic failure rather than solely an issue of withheld information.

Meanwhile, Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar has responded to Netanyahu's claims, calling them a "shameless incitement campaign" and vowing to sue. The Prime Minister has denied being warned by bin Zayed, while the UAE has maintained an ambiguous stance on the matter.