FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT
JERUSALEM – “Yoav and Benny.” The cameras focus on the defense minister and the former chief of staff as Bibi calls them by name. Petrified, not even a smile. There is no room in the small War Cabinet for camaraderie, for the distant pat on the back that the Prime Minister attempted during the group address to the nation. The unity is there, it remains limited to military operations, the two former generals are fighting another of the many wars, the most difficult, the most complex.
“Many questions”
Politics should stay away from the room on the twelfth floor of the Kirya, the white cube on the outskirts of Tel Aviv where the Israeli command meets, and Benjamin Netanyahu must not ignore it in his tactics. At the joint press conference, he once again took no responsibility for the massacres of October 7th, for the strategic disaster: “We will have to answer a lot of questions.” Me too.” The minimum. That night, the head of government’s official statement was a broadside against the leaders of the armed forces and intelligence: “Under no circumstances and at no time was the prime minister warned that Hamas wanted war.” All officials, including those in the Shin Bet and military intelligence, believed that the organization was under control and were looking for a compromise.”
Benny Gantz’s reaction
The first reaction comes from Benny (Gantz), who left the opposition to take part in the war council and is now defeating the longest-serving prime minister in the country’s history in the polls: “Netanyahu must withdraw his sentences and stop.” Being a leader means to show a sense of responsibility. Any other word or action damages the nation’s strength and resilience.” He turns to the soldiers and their generals and assures them: “We are with you, continue your mission.” Ten hours later – and many calls to retract – the Prime Minister deleted the message and apologized, but not even fully, as Anshel Pfeffer, a columnist for the newspaper Haaretz, points out: “He regrets the timing, not the content.” . . Which has now made the rounds and been reposted by his followers across social media.
“This is not the Second War of Independence”
Yaakov Katz, former director of the conservative newspaper Jerusalem Post, fears that the prime minister’s attempts to ensure his political survival will weaken the gears of the war campaign: “Imagine you are the head of the Shin Bet or the secret service, and “You got that.” Spending 5 hours on a summit with the man who’s already feeding you to the dogs.” Especially considering the military leaders have all already taken full responsibility. Yossi Cohen, head of the Mossad until two years ago and seen by Bibi himself as a possible successor at the head of the government, attacks him because of the formulas in the speech on Saturday evening: “This is not our second war of independence as he proclaimed” – says he in the news – we have been a strong and independent state for years. We are not facing an existential threat like we have in the past.”