Election Date Draws Closer as Netanyahu Faces Renewed October 7 Criticism

The approaching election campaign and the political timetable continue to fuel sharp disputes over responsibility for the events of October 7. Former Treasury budget chief Shaul Meridor, now a member of the Yashar! movement, attacked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sharply this morning (Thursday) in an interview on Radio 103FM, accusing him of deliberately trying to divert public attention from the security failure. "The terrible failure of October 7, which is registered under Netanyahu's name, will not be erased for him," Meridor said at the start of his remarks, pointing to the direct responsibility of the political leadership for the disaster.

"Escaping from the message that has been present for 3 years" Meridor referred specifically to the planned election date, and argued that the prime minister, known for his rhetorical abilities and political messaging, is trying to avoid the direct context of the day of the massacre, which remains present in Israeli public life. "When the elections are on October 27, Netanyahu, who better than him understands slogans and the meaning of words, wants to escape like a woman fleeing the announcement, from that October 7 that has been present for all of us for three years," the former senior Treasury official charged. According to Meridor, attempts by the prime minister's circle to create a new political narrative ahead of election day will not succeed in making the public forget the government's conduct and the heavy consequences of the failure, which have accompanied the State of Israel and Israeli society over recent years.