Maariv Editor Calls for Fairness in Narrative on October 7 Failures and Netanyahu's Role

Doron Cohen, editor of the Israeli newspaper Maariv, urges the political left to adopt a fair approach in the narrative battles surrounding the October 7 failures related to Hamas attacks. In an interview on the Knesset Channel podcast "Change of Direction," Cohen emphasized the complexity of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's responsibility for the events. He criticized former military chief Gadi Eizenkot for contradictory statements, noting that before October 7, Eizenkot claimed he prevented wars with Hamas, calling them a minor enemy not worth engaging, but later blamed Netanyahu for blocking preemptive action. Cohen stressed the importance of truth over political bias, saying, "I want you to tell the truth," regardless of left or right-wing perspectives.

Cohen acknowledged Netanyahu's accountability as prime minister but highlighted the situation's complexity. He illustrated this by hypothesizing that if Netanyahu had authorized a large-scale preemptive strike against Hamas on October 6, resulting in 50 soldier deaths, public opinion might have condemned him as a war criminal or reckless, unaware that such action could have prevented thousands of civilian deaths and kidnappings. Cohen argued that criticisms must be fair and based on honest assessments rather than changing the rules of the debate. He called for integrity in discussing the failures and responsibilities tied to the October 7 attacks.

The full podcast interview is available for viewing on the Knesset Channel.