The number of Israelis who consider Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “unfit to rule and conduct a war” is increasing. Even his comrades in the right-wing camp have begun to feel that he is no longer that experienced leader. They look at his actions since the Hamas attack three weeks ago and are surprised by his erratic decisions and statements. Paradoxical. They believe that Netanyahu is trying to create signs of strength that turn into weakness, and that his performance strengthens his opponents at home and his enemies abroad, and that the public that gave him the majority of seats in power quickly disavows him and demands that he resign, and all of this is in the midst of the war that has been going on since October 7. Even when he apologized in writing and wrote: “I apologize, I made a mistake,” they did not believe him.

Confronting journalists

That was when he held a joint press conference with the two members of the War Command; Defense Minister Yoav Galant and State Minister Benny Gantz, late at night. For the first time since the beginning of the war, journalists were informed that they would be allowed to ask questions. The questions were directed to him alone. One of them was raised by an Israeli Army Radio correspondent about “reports indicating that, before the war, he had received documents from the head of the Military Intelligence Division (Aman), Aharon Haliwa, and the head of the General Intelligence Agency (Shin Bet), Ronen Bar, warning of the increasing possibility of war breaking out.” Confusion appeared on his face and tone of voice, and he said: “All matters raised will be examined.” Everyone is being interrogated, and so am I. Now we are all recruited to thwart the missions of the enemy who wants to wipe us all off the map.”

This answer did not please those close to him, and they considered him weak and evasive, and he had close associates who used orgy and bragging rhetoric. They said that he had to respond immediately and say what he believed because no one had warned him. And he couldn't sleep. At one o'clock and ten minutes after midnight, a post appeared on his page on social networks in which he said: “Prime Minister Netanyahu was not warned, under any circumstances and at any stage, of Hamas’ intentions to wage war. On the contrary, all security officials appreciated “Including the head of Aman and the head of the Shin Bet, Hamas is deterred and will resort to a settlement.” He added, "These are the estimates that all security and intelligence agencies presented to the prime minister and the cabinet, time after time, until the moment the war broke out."

A thundering storm

When Netanyahu woke up, he found the echoes of this tweet a thundering storm. The opposition and some people close to the coalition attacked him. The press unanimously agreed that he behaved irresponsibly and unbecoming of a prime minister, and they wondered which prime minister was the one attacking the army and intelligence leaders while leading with them a war that he considered fateful.

It became clear that this attack on him exceeded imagination, and was characterized by much exaggeration and exaggeration, and that it was “a mistake that is being openly exploited against him.” He was prominent in his attack on the opposition leader, Yair Lapid, and the leaders of the protest movement against his plan to “reform the judiciary.” Lapid said, “Netanyahu crossed a red line.” While Israeli soldiers and army commanders are fighting against Hamas and Hezbollah, he is busy trying to blame them, instead of giving them support. Attempts to evade responsibility and blame the security apparatus weaken the Israeli army at a time when it is fighting Israel's enemies. Netanyahu should apologize for his statements.”

A statement issued by the “Brothers in Arms” protest movement said, “At a time when the people are mobilizing behind the army and working around the clock to defeat Hamas, Netanyahu is choosing to be preoccupied with partisan politics and with the investigation committee (which is expected to be formed after the war on Gaza.”) ), and he is not able to say I am responsible. If he were a real leader, he would support the security forces and bear responsibility.”

Advice to back off and apologize

Those loyal to him rushed to him, advising him to withdraw and apologise. He deleted the tweet that caused the uproar. Faced with the horror of the attack on him, he published a partial apology in which he said: “I made a mistake, I apologize. These words should not have been said,” but he added here that he had not received warnings. Rather, they assured him that Hamas was deterred and afraid of going to war. Therefore, the uproar against him was not reduced, and they began opening other files related to the war for him. They reminded him that the army and intelligence leaders had also published warnings in the newspapers, a week before the war, saying that the policy of the government and settlers against the Palestinians, such as the incursions into Al-Aqsa, the settlers’ attacks on Palestinian towns and property, and the plan to abuse the living conditions of prisoners in prisons, will spark a dangerous security escalation. However, Netanyahu did not change this policy and did not even discuss it in the government.

It is noteworthy that Netanyahu is running a policy of contradictions that attracts the attention of many. There are those who accuse him of continuing to strengthen Hamas until today, when he talks about that he is fighting an existential war more dangerous than the War of Independence (1948). They ask: “Doesn’t he understand that with these words he is raising the status of Hamas and portraying it as something strong, huge, and great, an organization whose number of fighters does not exceed 30,000?!”

Nahum Barnea wrote in Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper on Sunday, saying: “This is very far from being the second war of independence, as Netanyahu and his colleagues in the cabinet claimed. In the War of Independence, Israel fought for its existence, but now it is not fighting for its existence. It is fighting to return the kidnapped people, to remove the threat from a criminal terrorist organization and to restore its deterrent power against enemies in the region. These are three heavy tasks that it is doubtful that the government will succeed in achieving.” In this spirit, a number of experts spoke out against Netanyahu, saying that he is no longer fit to rule or manage a war.