The holiday of Simchat Torah in Israel this year will be marked by the tragedy and chaos that has devastated the region. With a toll of 400 dead and thousands injured and kidnapped in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, it is imperative to analyze responsibility in this crisis. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz, in its main editorial on October 8, strongly places all responsibility on Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
Netanyahu’s responsibility: He Haaretz editorial He forcefully points out that the disaster that Israel has suffered in Simchat Torah is clearly the responsibility of one person: Benjamin Netanyahu. Despite his vast political experience and supposed security wisdom, the prime minister failed to identify the dangers inherent in his decisions. Establishing a government of annexation and dispossession, appointing figures like Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir to key positions, and adopting a foreign policy that ignored Palestinian rights were steps that brought the country to the brink.
Evasion of responsibility and contempt for the enemy: The editorial anticipates that Netanyahu will try to evade responsibility and blame others, such as the heads of the army, Military Intelligence and the Shin Bet security service. However, the military and intelligence failure does not absolve the prime minister of overall responsibility for the crisis, as he is primarily responsible for Israel’s foreign and security affairs.
A policy of confrontation: The article also highlights that Netanyahu shaped the policy of the “change government” led by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, which sought to crush the Palestinian national movement in Gaza and the West Bank at a cost that seemed acceptable to the Israeli public. This policy included measures such as the annexation of the West Bank, the expansion of settlements and the reinforcement of the Jewish presence near the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The political context and corruption: The editorial also addresses the political context in which Netanyahu is accused of three corruption cases. He argues that a prime minister with these accusations cannot properly deal with state affairs, since his personal interests may take precedence over national ones. This led to the formation of an unstable coalition and the weakening of senior military and intelligence officers perceived as political opponents.
In summary, the Haaretz article critically exposes Benjamin Netanyahu’s responsibility in Israel’s current crisis and points out that his political decisions and management have led the country to an extremely dangerous situation.
