Likud Accuses Channel 12 of Spreading False Propaganda Against Netanyahu

The Likud party issued a strong statement Wednesday evening, accusing Channel 12 of broadcasting "false political propaganda" against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the party during its special coverage marking three years since the October 7th Hamas attack. The party stated that while it mourned the victims, Channel 12 was engaged in a campaign to undermine the right-wing government and establish a left-wing government that would create a Palestinian state.

Likud asserted that Prime Minister Netanyahu did not receive advance warning of the Hamas attack, citing testimonies from former President Trump, Biden advisor Brett McGurk, and the governments of the UAE and Egypt. The party presented intelligence reports and communications from May, July, and early October, indicating that security officials repeatedly assessed Hamas as deterred, seeking regulation, and deserving of humanitarian leniencies to maintain quiet. One report from October 1st, just seven days before the attack, quoted research head Amit Saar stating that Sinwar's desire was to return to quiet, and a Shin Bet assessment on October 3rd suggested security quiet in exchange for leniencies could maintain stability.

The party's statement claimed Netanyahu was first informed of the Hamas attack at 6:29 AM on October 7th. It further alleged that others who saw warning signs overnight failed to act, not updating the police, emergency squads, kibbutzim, soldiers, or festival-goers. Likud contended that if the Prime Minister had been updated in real-time, the situation would have been different.

Likud also credited Netanyahu with deciding on a ground maneuver in Gaza and resisting pressure from President Biden for an air-only response. The party attributed to him the conquest of Gaza and Rafah, the successful rescue of hostages, the "beeper operation," the elimination of Nasrallah, Sinwar, and Deif, the capture of Mount Hermon, the assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists, and ultimately, saving Israel from destruction by Iranian nuclear bombs.

Concluding its statement, Likud accused Channel 12 of political motives behind its special broadcasts, calling it "false consciousness engineering" aimed at toppling the right-wing government and installing a left-wing government with Arab parties. This alleged new government, Likud claimed, would withdraw from Gaza, Judea and Samaria, Lebanon, and Syria, and establish a Palestinian state.