Dim Amor

Opposition leader Yair Lapid published sharp statements on September 3rd on X against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding his responsibility for the October 7th disaster. Lapid claimed that Netanyahu is acting stubbornly to thwart the establishment of a state commission of inquiry, because he knows well that he is "the primary responsible party for the disaster".

In his post, Lapid detailed what he claimed were the factors that led to the massacre: "The suitcases of money he initiated, the policy of strengthening Hamas that he invented, and above all – his ignoring and indifference to all intelligence warnings in the weeks preceding the massacre". However, Lapid himself also adopted a similar policy toward Hamas during his tenure as head of the 14th government. As someone who served as Prime Minister and chairman of the "Yesh Atid" party, he too bears responsibility for the October events. Does Lapid indeed suffer from memory loss?

It should be emphasized that during his tenure, no substantial change occurred in policy toward Hamas: no new laws were enacted, and dozens of bills that were placed on the Knesset table on this matter were not approved. Reality shows that the existing policy toward the organization continued as it was under his leadership as well.

The October 7th disaster did not happen overnight. This is a bomb that Hamas organized over the past five to seven years, a period during which all senior Knesset members served in various positions – sometimes as part of the coalition and sometimes as part of the opposition. However, throughout all these periods, no significant change occurred in the approach toward Hamas.

The fact that Lapid now raises serious allegations against the Prime Minister raises questions about the soul-searching he must conduct. He too must take responsibility for his part in the events that led to the disaster. The criticism indicates that Lapid needs to examine his actions and omissions before casting blame on others.

When the state commission of inquiry is established, it must examine the root of the disaster and the beginnings that led to it. A thorough investigation of the root will reveal that responsibility lies with several central figures in the Israeli political system. Not only Netanyahu, but also Lapid, Naftali Bennett, and Avigdor Lieberman – all bear responsibility in one way or another.

The complex political reality in Israel, where leaders move between government and opposition positions, created a situation where no one took full responsibility for the policy toward Hamas. Each of these leaders was a partner, to one degree or another, in the policy that led to the October events.

The demand for a state commission of inquiry is legitimate and important, but it must be comprehensive and examine the involvement of all relevant factors. Only such an investigation can reveal the full truth and determine who bears the real responsibility for the disaster.

Mutual accusations between leaders of the political system cannot replace a professional and thorough investigation. The Israeli public deserves to know the truth about the events that led to the massacre, and to see that all those responsible, without exception, will bear the consequences of their actions and omissions.

Photo: From the Knesset website, Knesset of Israel