Netanyahu, you’ve done your job; now leave
Netanyahu in the 1990s was my hope for Israel. To me, neither born nor living there, Netanyahu had the extraordinary pedigree, the cosmopolitan education, an obvious Western style of logic and intelligence. He articulated the weakness of the Oslo inspired agreements and warned against them when they were signed in 1993. He noted the insanity of returning Arafat and his 7-10,000 armed “policemen” to Israel. He predicted the outcome of Rabin’s and Peres’ delusion.
I thought he started to change some 20 years ago. He showed a rising and snickering distain for opposition even from his own party and a seeming belief that only he could save Israel. These reached a culmination in his easy disposal of his agreement to share the Prime Minister office with Gantz. This smug self-confidence likely contributed to the IDF unpreparedness on October 7, 2023.
With the outbreak of this war I agreed with Netanyahu that victory over Hamas was more important than the return of the hostages. Then a few weeks ago, despite the ongoing war, the years of planning that led to the successful strike on Iran gave a major victory and him a legacy. But this victory, which greatly weakens the supply chain to Hamas, changes the prior premises and should lead to a change in strategy. Netanyahu seems unable to change. The millions who call for Netanyahu to leave are correct.
The years of this war have shown that Hamas is deeply embedded in the people of Gaza. Killing the current leadership of Hamas does not destroy it. At least a generation of a different relationship of Israel to Gaza will be needed to begin to think of an easing of the threat. The nature and execution of that change cannot come from Netanyahu and those ministers supporting him.
This war is savaging both the people and the economy of Israel. Soldiers continue to be disabled or die. Companies are cautious about investing in Israel. Israel’s talented and highly educated are in a quandary about staying. Young parents have to ask whether they want to raise their children under constant threat of war or whether they should leave.
Netanyahu seems blind to what he is doing to the fabric of Israel. Torah itself speaks of soldiers defending Israel. No one, except for Rabbis protecting their turf, can justify excluding men from serving while even women soldiers are killed and wounded. Soldiers, reservists, and the populace call out for sharing the burden but Netanyahu is clearly putting himself first.
And it is an obvious and growing reality that Israel is losing support in the international community. Support means trade and this is crucial for a modern State.
A change in thinking with a focus on an early end to the war and getting hostages home is needed. Netanyahu cannot do this; he is boxed in. He cannot see a way to a negotiated end to this war which is draining Israel dry. More, he seems to be wasting an opportunity for treaties with Lebanon and the new Syria. For Israel’s sake he needs to retire with his Iranian triumph. New leadership with new thinking is needed. Surely there are people in his coalition who love Israel and who see this and who understand that Netanyahu is the barrier to a resolution. Where are they?
