Journalist Ruvik Drucker Criticizes Yaakov Amidror's Media Appearances

Journalist Ruvik Drucker has criticized Yaakov Amidror, former National Security Advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, regarding his frequent media interviews on national security matters following the October 7th Hamas attacks. Drucker's comments came after the Supreme Court allowed the publication of the name of the intelligence officer of the Gaza Division on October 7th, identified as Aryeh Amidror, Yaakov Amidror's son.

Drucker stated he is not against Amidror being interviewed, nor is he sure that a disclosure requirement is meaningful, given that Amidror was previously prohibited from revealing his son's identity and role. However, Drucker asserted that Amidror should refrain from interviews for a different, more significant reason. He believes Amidror should preface all his interviews with a more substantial disclosure, acknowledging his own past involvement in the intelligence failures leading up to October 7th and his potential need to be questioned under caution by a state inquiry commission.

Drucker recalled telling Amidror this directly in an interview early in the war, noting that Amidror did not seem convinced by this advice, despite giving hundreds of subsequent interviews. Drucker also presented clips of Amidror's past statements on Hamas policy, where Amidror described a strategy of periodic operations to contain Hamas without disrupting Israel's existence or well-being. Drucker contrasted this with his own view, suggesting that someone who made such significant errors should not be offering advice to the public, drawing a parallel to Eli Ze'ira after the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

In their prior exchange, Amidror rejected Drucker's premise, arguing that it is impossible for individuals involved in intelligence assessments to avoid making mistakes, and that such errors do not disqualify them from offering their views.