Netanyahu Blames Military for Attack His Policies Enabled
The Financial Times notes the Israeli government's renewed push to pin the blame for the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on its own military. This deflection comes as protests for accountability intensify, particularly against Prime Minister Netanyahu. It’s a familiar tactic: in 2002, during the Second Intifada, and again after the 2006 Lebanon War, criticism of political leadership quickly pivoted
to scrutinizing military preparedness. Each time, the focus moves from political choices—like intentionally weakening the Palestinian Authority in favor of Hamas, as documented by multiple sources and confirmed by Netanyahu himself in 2019 remarks—to tactical shortcomings. One might wonder if the government's 15-year policy of 'managing' Hamas, rather than seeking a lasting political solution or
even confronting the settler-driven escalation in the West Bank, played a larger role than any military misstep. How many times must a leader deflect responsibility for the direct consequences of their long-standing, publicly known strategy? It appears accountability is a privilege reserved for the lower ranks, while the architects of disaster remain comfortably above the fray.