Blame Israel's Intelligence Elite On Hamas Attacks, PM Netanyahu Apologizes After Criticizing Coalition And Opposition

PM Netanyahu (third from the right) Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant (blue credit) and Chief of Staff IDF Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi (second from the right). (Wikimedia Commons/IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

JAKARTA - Prime Minister Benjamin Nentanyahu withdrew his comments and apologized, after his accusations against the Israeli intelligence elite regarding the attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, sparked political upheaval, drawing criticism from the coalition to opposition on Sunday.

"There is no time or stage that warns Prime Minister Netanyahu about the intentions of the Hamas war. On the other hand, all security officials, including the head of military intelligence and head of the Shin Bet, estimate Hamas is hesitant and interested in an agreement," said Prime Minister Netanyahu's post on X. which has been removed, reported by Reuters October 29.

The statement was posted at around 00:30 a.m. on Sunday local time. It caused political noise, rifts in the cabinet of war, which sparked public outrage for not taking responsibility for intelligence and operational failures related to Hamas attacks.

Although high Israeli officials, ranging from the military leadership and the Shin Bet interior spy service to the finance minister, all acknowledged their failure, PM Netanyahu had not acknowledged their failure.

He just said there would be time to ask difficult questions, including about himself, after the war.

Netanyahu's initial comments were immediately reprimanded by his current allies and in the past, including Benny Gantz, former defense minister who is now in Prime Minister Netanyahu's war cabinet.

Gantz said in X PM Netanyahu had to withdraw his words and let this problem pass.

"When we are at war, leadership must show responsibility, decide to do the right thing and strengthen strength in such a way that they can do what we ask for," Gantz wrote.

Meanwhile, opposition leader Yair Lapid who is also a former prime minister said PM Netanyahu was "passing the red line" with his post overnight.

"Efforts to avoid responsibility and blame security forces will weaken the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) as they fight Israel's enemies," he criticized.

Meanwhile, Mossad's director in Prime Minister Netanyahu's previous administration Yossi Cohen told Radio Israel: "You take responsibility from the start of your work, not from the middle."

In his second upload on X about 10 hours later, PM Netanyahu wrote: "I was wrong," adding the statement "shouldn't have been made and I apologize for that."

"I give full support to all the heads of the security branch," he said.

Asked about PM Netanyahu's comments in a daily briefing with reporters, an Israeli military spokesman declined to answer and said: "We are now at war, focusing on war."

Israeli officials said events ahead and including the handling of the Hamas attack would be investigated, but the current focus is on the conflict.

It is known that Hamas' sudden attack on the southern region on October 7, became the deadliest for Israel in 75 years. It saw Israel bombard and blockade a total of Gaza for two weeks, followed by ground attacks aimed at eliminating Hamas.