Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived today (Thursday) for a confidential discussion at the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Security Committee, where he gave a political-security overview to the committee members.
Netanyahu chose to dedicate the beginning of the discussion to the events of October 7, and read dramatic quotes that ostensibly absolve him of responsibility for the omission.
The dramatic quotes reveal an unimaginable picture of the way in which the heads of the security establishment over the years have repeatedly thwarted Netanyahu's desire to eliminate and persecute the leaders of Hamas.
In response to a question from a member of Knesset, Netanyahu said: "There was a serious intelligence failure, but there was no betrayal.".
According to a Channel 7 report, during the discussion, Netanyahu revealed that on the morning of October 7, at 5:15 AM, the Shin Bet issued an official document that summarized all the alerts received during the night from the Gaza Strip. According to him, the document only reached the Prime Minister's Office at 9:47 AM - more than four hours after it was distributed.
Netanyahu claimed that the original document did not contain any instruction to update the prime minister, and noted that only in the Shin Bet reports that were recently submitted was the instruction to update the prime minister suddenly added.
According to him, the Shin Bet allegedly forged and added the update. The document is signed by the head of the Shin Bet at the time, Ronen Bar.
Netanyahu told the committee members that he had forwarded the findings to State Comptroller Matanyahu Engelman, as part of the investigation into the October seven-day events, and claimed that the comptroller was astonished by the information. He said, "Their jaws were just s-"
The committee members also reacted with astonishment.
The early part of the debate turned into a frontal confrontation with opposition members, after, as mentioned, the Prime Minister read to the members minutes from past cabinet meetings.
The quotes that were revealed were, among others, from Naftali Bennett, Benny Gantz, Gadi Eisenkot, Moshe (Bogi) Ya'alon, Aviv Kochavi, former Shin Bet head Nadav Argaman, and other senior figures in the defense establishment in the previous decade - among other things to prove that no one thought that a lapse like October 7 could happen.
Netanyahu claimed that Naftali Bennett was the one who had previously blocked extensive operations in the Gaza Strip. "Bennett has always opposed the occupation of Gaza," Netanyahu was quoted as reading from the protocols - and said: "The people of Israel must know these protocols.".
According to Channel 14, Netanyahu also cited a report submitted by former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar three days before October 7, in which he stated: "Quiet has returned to the fence.".
During the discussion, Netanyahu revealed how he called in a cabinet discussion to eliminate Muhammad Deif, declaring, "I stand by it." In response, Kochavi replied, "No sir, it’s not worth the price!"
Netanyahu also turned to Eizenkot at the time, demanding that the Hamas leaders be eliminated, and he replied: "Elimination will lead to a serious escalation. My position and that of all the heads of the security establishment is that the events need to be contained, only then will there be peace.".
Another incident in the cabinet that Netanyahu described occurred in January 2023 between him and Ronen Bar, in which he demanded the elimination of Salah al-Arouri. In response, the former head of the Shin Bet insisted: "It is not right to do this." During the discussion, other senior figures in the defense establishment insisted: "Hamas will not start a war. Hamas wants peace. We should allow the entry of workers and economic benefits. This is the right way to maintain stability.".
In addition, at a cabinet meeting, Netanyahu declared: "I believe in attrition. We need to mow the grass! Behead them. When they are busy fleeing and escaping, they will have less time to act against us," but Nadav Argaman, Ronen Bar, and the other senior officials insisted: "There is no need. It is unnecessary. The prices are heavy and expensive. There is also no operational maturity.".
The dramatic materials surprised the coalition participants. One of the committee members told Channel 14: "We are shocked. All those who tried to thwart him for years are the ones who are attacking him today.".
Some opposition members left the closed-door discussion angry: "Is this what we came to the discussion for? To hear Bibi read us minutes from the cabinets against Bennett, Eisenkot, and Gantz? Does he think we are stupid? They didn't let us ask a single question.".
MK Sharon Nir of Yisrael Beiteinu attacked the prime minister following his remarks, but was met with harsh reactions from coalition members. Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana said he was not surprised by the remarks and added that he had already heard them in the Intelligence Committee.
MK Boaz Bismuth also joined the criticism, turning to Nir and saying that he did not understand her outrage, as she was a participant in the committee's discussions, heard the comments along with the other members, and knows them well.
Knesset Speaker Ohana added: "There was a discussion here two and a half months before the inauguration in October, a sub-bubble for intelligence, with the Chief of Staff and the head of the research division. They only talked about Hezbollah and Iran. I asked him about Gaza, is there nothing to worry about? The Chief of Staff told me - right.".
MK Tali Gottlieb told the prime minister in the debate that he should bring his words to the entire nation, adding that the move would bring 80 seats to his camp.
Netanyahu did not rule out, but did not specify whether he would do so - and whether he would publish all the protocols in which all his remarks are also presented.
Join the Haredim 10 Facebook page >>
Join the X page of Haredim 10 >>
Want more news, videos and stories? Join the Haredim 10 WhatsApp channel >>
