By Victor Merat
Published 58 minutes ago, updated 2 minutes ago
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. POOL / Portal
Former Prime Minister Yair Lapid claims that Benjamin Netanyahu received information from his services before the Islamist terrorist group’s attack.
Former Prime Minister and current leader of the Israeli opposition, Yaïr Lapid, asserts on “On the eve of Yom Kippur, September 20, I issued an unusual warning of an outbreak of violence in multiple locations,” he explains. The intelligence documents I relied on were also presented to Netanyahu. Those who provided the information are the same members of the security system that Netanyahu now accuses of failing to warn.
This diatribe is reminiscent of statements by Egyptian intelligence services that Cairo had repeatedly warned Benjamin Netanyahu that Hamas was “preparing something very important.” One claim was quickly dismissed by the Israeli prime minister’s office as questions circulated about the failures of the Jewish state’s intelligence service.
Netanyahu has crossed a “red line”.
Likewise, Yaïr Lapid believes that Benjamin Netanyahu crossed a “red line” by placing responsibility for Israel’s lack of preparation on October 7 on the army and intelligence services. In a message posted on “All security officials, including the head of army intelligence and the head of the Shin Bet, believed that Hamas had been deterred [de lancer une attaque] and interested in an agreement,” the message continued.
“While IDF soldiers and commanders fight bravely against Hamas and Hezbollah, he tries to blame them instead of supporting them,” criticized Yair Lapid. Attempts to evade responsibility and shift blame onto the security establishment weaken the IDF in the fight against Israel’s enemies. Mr. Netanyahu must apologize for his comments.”
However, on Wednesday, October 25, Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged in a speech that he must also be held “responsible” for security “failures.” “But all this will happen after the war,” he concluded.