With relations between the military and Benjamin Netanyahu having gone through an aggravation phase in recent days, a joint statement comes to show that there is collusion between the government and the army.
It is recalled that former high-ranking military officers spoke of a “dysfunctional government” that bears responsibility and that is why the movement of the joint statement between the Israeli government and the army is interpreted by the international media as an unexpected action.
The Israeli prime minister’s office along with Israel’s defense ministry and IDF issued a statement indicating “close cooperation”.
“There is absolute and mutual trust between the prime minister, the defense minister and the army chief. We are united to achieve the goal,” the statement noted, and then stated that the cooperation would lead to a “decisive victory over Hamas.”
The fierce criticism of Netanyahu
Opinion polls in Israel show that 80% of citizens are in favor of Netanyahu’s resignation – a figure considerably higher than the 58% who support the ground operation in Gaza. The statements of former Israeli officials are typical:
Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak described the terrorist attack as “the most serious blow that Israel has suffered since its foundation until today.” “I don’t think the people trust Netanyahu when he’s carrying the burden of such a big disaster,” he told the Observer. A former chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces said the prime minister should “resign now”, while a former intelligence official described the national unity government that emerged from the state of war as “dysfunctional”.
The “thorn” of the hostages adds several tiles to the murky political landscape: Some of the abductees’ families have pleaded with the government to negotiate before invading the Palestinian enclave, while others argue that only an immediate military operation to destroy the Hamas leadership can provide a solution, even if it endangers the safety of their own people.
According to the opposition newspaper Haaretz, citing “defense sources”, Netanyahu is seeking to blame the failure of the Secret Service on the military: according to the newspaper’s sources, this is exactly what the appointment is being cut to – just four days after the start of war – a new representative in his office to communicate with military correspondents.
“Netanyahu gathers evidence against the military, claiming in private conversations that it is not his fault and that he did not get the information.” According to another official, “it is clear what Netanyahu is doing: I have already heard about the dragging of officers from a military correspondent. It’s embarrassing.”
Several sources called the appointment unusual, especially during a war, as the defense minister and IDF chief of staff usually maintain constant communication with military correspondents. “Just so you understand,” a Defense Ministry source said, “the chief of staff has not met a single correspondent. The prime minister has already seen several of them twice.”
Another defense source cited by Haaretz said it was a particularly questionable move, given that the military leadership has already taken responsibility for failing to foresee the attack, while Netanyahu has denied any role in the case. “He is wrong to think he can avoid taking responsibility after senior military officials have already said they are to blame,” the source said. “The prime minister has forgotten that he is also responsible.”
The Walla news website, citing sources close to the prime minister, said his wife Sarah had told him to collect all public announcements and classified minutes from security cabinet meetings and defense discussions. He also reportedly told him to collect all excerpts of statements from former and current senior defense officials that reflect the Secret Service’s miscalculations about Hamas’ capabilities and intentions.
Source: First Theme
