Gallant describes Netanyahu as 'a liar' and accuses him of falsifying facts about the October 7 failure

The Israeli political arena has witnessed an unprecedented escalation in the intensity of mutual accusations between former and current ruling figures, as former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant launched a direct and frank attack on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Gallant described Netanyahu as 'a liar,' accusing him of attempting to craft a misleading narrative aimed at evading full responsibility for the security and military failures that preceded and accompanied the October 7, 2023 attack.

This outburst of statements came after Netanyahu published a lengthy 55-page document containing his official responses submitted to the State Comptroller regarding the events of the war. Through this document, Netanyahu attempted to shift blame onto army leaders and security institutions, claiming that they underestimated the seriousness of threats from the Gaza Strip and opposed taking decisive preemptive measures.

Gallant, in an interview with Israeli media, considered the timing of this document's publication a stab in the back of soldiers and the military establishment at a time when combat operations are still ongoing. He affirmed that Netanyahu systematically incited against army commanders and the internal security service (Shin Bet), trying to portray himself as the only figure who demanded toughness against Palestinian factions.

The former Defense Minister revealed sharp contradictions in Netanyahu's narrative, pointing out that the latter was not an advocate for major assassinations, such as targeting Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah in their early stages. He clarified that there is a vast gap between the hawkish public rhetoric the Prime Minister promotes to the public and the political and personal calculations that govern his decisions behind closed doors.

Regarding military operations in the city of Rafah, Gallant refuted Netanyahu's claims that the delay was due to concerns among army leadership. He clarified that the real reason was purely logistical, as the army sought to secure a sufficient stock of ammunition in anticipation of a widespread conflict on the northern front, far from the political justifications Netanyahu is trying to promote.

Gallant also touched upon the funding issue, accusing Netanyahu of adopting a strategic policy of allowing money to flow into the Gaza Strip for many years. He claimed that this policy aimed to weaken the Palestinian Authority, but ultimately led to strengthening the military capabilities of factions in Gaza instead of deterring them, as was rumored.

The former minister strongly criticized Netanyahu's crisis management style, saying that his priorities begin with himself first, then the survival of his government, and only in the last place comes the interest of the state. He added that the Prime Minister attributes military successes only to himself, while he is quick to blame others for any failure or setback faced by Israeli policies.

For his part, opposition leader Yair Lapid joined the offensive front, asserting that Netanyahu's document is a desperate attempt to erase history and falsify established facts. Lapid indicated that he personally warned Netanyahu in August 2023 of the danger of multiple fronts igniting based on accurate intelligence reports, questioning how the Prime Minister could claim ignorance of those risks.

This war of words comes at a very sensitive time, as both Netanyahu and Gallant face international arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court since November 2024. These international legal pursuits further complicate the internal scene, as each party tries to clear its name before both Israeli public opinion and the international community.

Recent opinion polls indicate a clear erosion of Netanyahu's popularity, with more than half of Israelis expressing a desire for him to retire from political life. Nevertheless, Netanyahu appears determined to contest the upcoming elections, using all available tools to defend his political narrative and ensure his continued stay in power despite the corruption cases pursuing him.

Observers believe that Netanyahu's refusal to form an official and independent investigation committee so far reinforces the suspicions of the opposition and the military establishment about his true intentions. Instead of an official committee, Netanyahu is pushing for the formation of a 'political' committee that grants his ruling coalition the ability to choose its members, which the opposition considers an attempt to bury the facts.

The current conflict in Israel has transcended the boundaries of traditional political disagreement to become an existential 'battle of narratives' that touches the core of the state's security doctrine. This division is compared to the repercussions of the 1973 war, but observers believe that the current earthquake is more severe given the unprecedented scale of intelligence and political failure in Israel's history.

With the parliamentary elections approaching, the pace of leaks from secret meeting minutes is expected to increase, as each camp tries to use security information as a political weapon. This sharp polarization raises serious concerns within Israeli society about the possibility of political differences escalating into street violence before heading to the ballot boxes.

Ultimately, the lingering question in the Israeli street remains about who will be able to impose their final narrative about the October events. Between Gallant's accusations of deception and Netanyahu's defenses with leaked documents, the truth remains absent in the absence of an official and independent investigation that clarifies the most dangerous crisis Israel has faced in decades.

We have a lying prime minister... While our soldiers were dying, he chose to stab them in the back by inciting against the leaders of the security establishment.