Netanyahu Fears October 7th Trauma Will Resurface Before Elections

The Likud party issued a strong statement against Channel 12 news following its reporting on the anniversary of the October 7th Hamas attack, accusing the network of spreading "false political propaganda" aimed at toppling the right-wing government and establishing a Palestinian state. The statement defended Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, asserting he received no prior warning of the Hamas attack and that security officials believed Hamas was deterred and seeking a settlement. Likud cited intelligence documents from May, July, and October 2023, as well as a Shin Bet document from October 3rd, to support its claim that Hamas sought stability and that the Lebanese front was considered a more immediate threat.

The party claimed Netanyahu was only informed of the attack at 6:29 AM on October 7th and shifted blame to those who allegedly saw the signs overnight but failed to alert the Prime Minister, security forces, or civilian communities. The Likud statement then pivoted to highlight Netanyahu's post-October 7th achievements, including the ground operation in Gaza, the Rafah operation, hostage releases, and eliminating Hamas and Hezbollah leaders. The party explicitly accused Channel 12 of "consciousness engineering" to install a government that would withdraw from Gaza, Judea and Samaria, Lebanon, and Syria, leading to a Palestinian state.

Analysts suggest Likud's aggressive response stems from a strategic calculation regarding the upcoming elections. The party believes the public's emotional memory of the October 7th trauma, though perhaps not fully reflected in current polls, could resurface and influence voters at the last minute. The ongoing debate over the conscription law for Haredi men is also seen as a tool to consolidate the right-wing base and pressure potential coalition partners. Likud aims to shift the public discourse from Netanyahu's responsibility for the October 7th failures to broader issues like national security, the left-right divide, Haredi conscription, and the establishment of a Palestinian state, areas where they feel more comfortable campaigning.

The party's strategy is to leverage the emotional weight of October 7th, hoping to frame any reporting on the event as an attempt by the opposition to install a left-wing government. They believe that while many who were disillusioned by the events of October 7th may have already decided not to vote Likud, the lingering emotional impact of the trauma could still sway undecided voters or those whose intentions might change in the final moments before casting their ballot. The timing of the elections, three weeks after the anniversary, is seen as a critical window where the emotional resonance of October 7th could be amplified by commemorative events and media coverage, potentially impacting the final vote.