The calamitous Oct. 7 surprise offensive that initiated the Israel-Hamas War will serve as the subject of study for the coming decades. Understanding how the Palestinian Islamist group used low-technology systems to pull off the most savage attack on Israel in 50 years will take time and space from the event and the ongoing conflict. Determining how Israeli intelligence failed so catastrophically will also require study. Similarly, a complete analysis of the Israel Defense Forces’ misunderstanding of Hamas’ intentions and capabilities requires a full investigation.
There is one judgment, however, that requires no further inquiry: Benjamin Netanyahu must not remain Israeli prime minister. This failure is on his hands, and he can no longer serve the people of Israel.
History offers an awful point of reference. The parallels between this moment and the Oct. 6, 1973 attack by a coalition of Arab states on Israel that expelled the Israeli prime minister are achingly, blindingly apparent. Then, despite numerous warnings of impending attacks from neighboring countries and even from allies such as the United States, Prime Minister Gold Meir and her cabinet did nothing. A sense of Israeli invincibility, combined with a dismissal of intelligence, led to a devastating attack and a war that forever altered Israel’s perception of its place in the region.
In 1973, the Israel Defense Forces beat back the Arab forces during the 18-day Yom Kippur War that followed the initial blow. Nonetheless, Meir’s tenure was over. An investigation into the attack that revealed a lack of foresight and military readiness swept her out of office.
The failures manifest in the present scenario are worse. This time, the attack was planned and rehearsed right under the noses of IDF security, with Hamas fighters training for the assault in plain sight. Despite intelligence indications pointing toward a possible Hamas offensive, Israel was underprepared and caught off guard. This time, multiple indications of a looming attack went unheeded. The IDF picked up indicators of Hamas repositioning for an assault the day before the attack, but leadership refused to increase alert or defense levels. As in 1973, Israel received warnings from outside the country: Cairo presented senior Israeli leadership with multiple warnings in the weeks ahead of the attack.
The response from Israeli media since the attack has been swift and rightly unequivocal. Shortly after the Hamas raid into Israel, the editorial board of Ha’aretz, Israel’s oldest daily newspaper, placed the responsibility squarely on Netanyahu. The weight of that criticism intensified recently when Ha’aretz published a damning editorial titled, “Netanyahu: Resign Now!”
Democratic leaders traditionally face an uptick in support immediately after a national crisis, particularly an attack on sovereign land that requires a robust military response. In political science, this is known as the “rally around the flag phenomenon.” While the effect is often overstated, and the improved opinion is generally mild, national leaders rarely lose public support in the early moments of a national conflict. Inside Israel, Netanyahu faces near-universal contempt, his support imploding even among his own Likud Party. Virtually all – 95 percent – of surveyed Jewish Israelis believe the Hamas raid signifies a failure by Netanyahu’s government. Shockingly, this sentiment even encompasses 93 percent of those who previously supported his right-wing coalition.
Benjamin Netanyahu has always wanted to be remembered as “the protector of Israel.” This is something he says frequently. Yet, after his government failed to keep Israel safe, Netanyahu refuses any responsibility.
This moment requires more than just strength and anger; it demands foresight, humility, and the moral fortitude to admit mistakes. Meir recognized that when she stepped down. History, the thing itself, now beckons Netanyahu. Because he lacks Meir’s introspection, clarity of thought, and moral compass, it is hard to foresee Netanyahu resigning. He has failed to demonstrate a quiver of responsibility. He will undoubtedly cast blame about: on Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, on Director of the Israel Security Agency Ronen Bar, and on IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi. And these three men must all go away in disgrace. To their credit, however, they have all done something their prime minister is incapable of: publicly accepting responsibility.
In the aftermath of the Oct. 7 surprise attack, the heart of Israel grieves. Its people, shaken by a perceived invulnerability now shattered, look for a beacon of hope and moral certainty. Yet, amidst the rubble and chaos stands a leader obstinate to any self-reflection or self-criticism. Golda Meir’s resignation in the wake of the Yom Kippur War sets a precedent. Leaders must serve as the embodiment of a nation’s spirit and its moral compass. A leader who cannot introspect, accept responsibility, and correct course during times of adversity fails not just his position but also his people. Healing, grieving, and navigating whatever new security development manifests with Palestine and the Middle East requires leadership that understands these principles. Benjamin Netanyahu must step aside and let a new chapter of leadership begin.
