Former Minister Matan Kahana Warns Israel Is Heading Toward Collapse Amid Lebanon Border Tensions

Former Israeli Minister and Knesset member Matan Kahana expressed deep concern over Israel's current security situation following the deaths of two reservist soldiers in Lebanon due to an explosive device in the security zone. Speaking on Radio 103FM, Kahana criticized the government's weak response to Hezbollah and the broader northern border threats, attributing the situation to a lack of clear policy and diminished Israeli freedom of action in Lebanon under Prime Minister Netanyahu's leadership.

Kahana argued that Israel has become dependent on American directives, particularly under former President Trump, which has constrained Israel's ability to respond effectively. He rejected claims that Israel was forced into the current predicament, instead blaming the government's narrative of an imminent "complete victory" that prevented the development of a coherent strategy to end the conflict. He suggested that a different approach over the past three years, leveraging Israel Defense Forces' achievements toward political arrangements, could have altered the situation.

Regarding the appropriate Israeli response to the soldiers' deaths, Kahana called for a decisive and forceful reaction, referencing former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot's strategy of demolishing buildings in the Dahiya area of Beirut as a deterrent. He criticized the current government for returning to a cycle of endless rounds of conflict with mutual deterrence but no decisive action, warning that Israel must impose a heavy price on violations to prevent further escalation.

Kahana concluded with a stark metaphor, describing the current leadership as "the worst crew in Israel's history" piloting a plane on a downward trajectory toward crash, underscoring his urgent call for a change in policy and leadership approach to northern border security.