Unpacking the Netanyahu Legacy – part 1 |
The Architect of Disaster: Unpacking the Netanyahu Legacy
For decades, Benjamin Netanyahu presented himself as “Mr. Security”—the indispensable guardian of the Jewish state. Yet, as the dust settles on the catastrophic events of October 7, 2023, a different legacy emerges. It is not one of strength, but of cynical manipulation; not of security, but of catastrophic abandonment. The Netanyahu legacy is built on the deliberate sabotage of peace, the empowerment of enemies, the corruption of Israeli institutions, and the subordination of national interest to political survival.
The October 7 Abandonment
The most indelible stain on Netanyahu’s legacy is the abandonment of the southern border. For hours on that black Shabbat, Israeli civilians begged for help while the Prime Minister remained silent. The narrative that Hamas was “deterred” was a delusion Netanyahu sold to avoid military entanglements. When the attack came, there was no plan, no rapid response, and no leadership. Survivors didn’t ask where the terrorists were; they asked where Netanyahu was. The answer—hiding, deflecting, and later blaming his generals—defines a legacy of dereliction of duty.
The Qatari Money Pipeline
How did Hamas amass its arsenal? With Netanyahu’s blessing. For years, he allowed millions of Qatari dollars to flow into Gaza. Officially, it was humanitarian aid. Unofficially, it was a strategic bribe for quiet. Netanyahu famously told his cabinet in 2018, “Whoever is against a Palestinian state should be for the transfers” to Hamas. By propping up Hamas, he intentionally split Palestinian governance. Those Qatari dollars bought rockets, tunnels, and the paragliders of October 7. And we must never forget the statement repeated frequently by his senior minister Smotrich “Hamas is an asset.”
Weakening the PA While Empowering Hamas
The stated reason the peace process died is that “there is no Palestinian partner for peace.” Netanyahu worked tirelessly to make this prophecy self-fulfilling. He systematically undermined the Palestinian Authority (PA)—withholding tax revenues,........