Netanyahu told to 'quit now' as ex-leaders pin blame on dysfunctional government

[brooklynite]

Source: The Guardian

Former Israeli military, political and intelligence officials have expressed doubts over the leadership of prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as debate rages inside the country about the response to the Hamas attacks on 7 October that killed 1,400 Israelis.

Former prime minister Ehud Barak described the terrorist attack as “the most severe blow Israel has suffered since its establishment to date”. “I don’t believe that the people trust Netanyahu to lead when he is under the burden of such a devastating event that just happened under his term,” he told the Observer.

A former chief of staff of the Israel Defence Forces said that Netanyahu should “resign now”, while a former intelligence official described the government as “dysfunctional”.

The interventions come amid growing concern in Israel at the government’s attempts to free some of the 200 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Some families of those held hostage have begged the government to negotiate before invading Gaza, while others have said that only an immediate military operation to destroy Hamas’s leadership can provide a solution, even if this risks the safety of the hostages.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/22/netanyahu-told-to-quit-now-as-ex-leaders-pin-blame-on-dysfunctional-government

[sabbat hunter]

1. Bibi needs to go

The war with Hamas is just one thing on a long list of reasons of why he needs to go.

[underpants]

2. Not that they deserved it but that was a massive failure

Especially given their close proximity and their supposed HUMINT operation.

[twodogsbarking]

3. Truth comes out a little at a time.

[AntiFascist]

4. K&R n/t

[slightlv]

5. This is what happens when you have

a fascist or fascist-lite administration. Everything Bibi was trying to do (and accomplishing in some aspects) was exactly what *rump would do, which is what Putin has done, and take it around the world where Fascists have made inroads into a country's government. This is what we're up against. The only hope I see is that Poland has now rejected that government. I hope they were just the first in a long line of people wising up to fascism.

[moniss]

6. Looking at history once again may lead us closer to

some uncomfortable questions for the Israeli leadership. In 1973 just days before the Yom Kippur War the Israeli intelligence and military apparatus knew an attack was imminent and Golda Meir was consulted about whether to make a preemptive attack. She chose not to because the US under Nixon/Kissinger had made it abundantly clear that if Israel took that action the resupply of weapons would be a trickle if anything. The nation of Israel therefore had to be seen as "responding" rather than "preventing" in their military actions. There was much criticism of Meir for this decision and people generally called the government's response of not preempting to be a "failure".

There have been reports that there was similar "awareness" and warnings of impending attack given prior to the current escalation. It is reasonable to ask if the current Israeli leadership took a similar view as in 1973. Being seen as "responding" always gives a bit of moral high ground and makes claims of "need for self defense" more acceptable to the outside world compared to initiating preemptive attacks. Did all of this play any role in the current decision making prior to the day of the escalating terror attack?

Did the government take the decision to wait and "respond" under the assumption that the Hamas attack would be lower in ferocity, scale and casualties? The Yom Kippur War of 1973 lists no civilian Israeli deaths but 2656 military dead and 9000 military and civilian wounded. Some of those could certainly have been prevented if Meir decided differently in a very difficult situation which almost tied her hands. How many could have been prevented now? So will the Israeli government be subject to a truthful investigation by it's people regarding it's response in the current scenario? This could drag on a long time and with the current leadership situation willingness to cooperate in a truly independent investigation will not be easy to obtain.

[AntiFascist]

7. In a recent statement made by Netanyahu...

he seemed to be calling Israelis to battle, battle, and more battle... There have also been estimates that the current war could last 10 years in order to completely eliminate Hamas, however Netanyahu has shown in the past that he has no desire to work with the Palestinian Authority as an alternative government, since that could lead to a two state solution.

Netanyahu is likely hoping that he can remain in power as long as the war continues. When and if the US ever has a functioning Congress, it could limit lethal weapon support for Israel if the situation in the Arab world continues to get worse and escalates.

[moniss]

9. Good points and

it is doubtful to me that the people who were anti BN and wanted him out will diminish in number. I think he has no good way forward. A reoccupation of Gaza will not work but it seems that we will see some form of one at least attempted.

[Martin68]

8. He ain't gonna let go of power till you pry it from his cold dead hands.

[Kennah]

10. But, but, but, he got his 9/11, so he needs to be able to invade somewhere