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Shimon Sheves

The Prime Minister Huddles in a Bunker

World Economic Forum/swiss-image.ch
World Economic Forum/swiss-image.ch

When a leader or head of state hides, flees, or enters a bunker, the act clearly reflects fear of an enemy or crowd. It is undoubtedly a point of no return that shows the leader’s shame, disgrace, and loss of composure. Sinwar did it, Nasrallah did it, and now Netanyahu has joined the list of shameful leaders. But he has gone further by timing the disappearance on the most important day for the people of Israel—Independence Day. Now, questions must be asked:

Does Netanyahu acknowledge the loss of independence?
Does he know something we are not aware of?
Is the head of state weak, fearful, desperate, or ill?
Or maybe all the answers are correct?

Sinwar from Hamas has long disappeared somewhere in a tunnel in Rafah; Nasrallah from Hezbollah has been residing in a bunker in Beirut for years; and Bibi Netanyahu is gone, apparently in a bunker in Jerusalem, Caesarea, or God knows where.

The 76th Independence Day of the State of Israel was different and especially difficult. It highlighted the hardship of being an Israeli during this illogical and confusing period, the focus of which is rooted in October 7. But the roots of this hardship began long before, namely many years back.

Expressions of the nation’s precarious state reverberate at every junction throughout the country and, in recent days, have also spilled over into Memorial Day ceremonies and military cemeteries, as government ministers were received with boos, sadness, and anger. The climax occurred at the Independence Day ceremony, which resembled an embarrassing event from North Korea – a pre-recorded, engineered ceremony without an audience or displays of emotion.

The schism between the people and the leadership is starkly evident: on the one hand, stories of citizen heroism which represent all the good, education, settlement, and bravery of the people; on the other hand, the wretchedness of the failed, sick, and absent leadership.

The security leadership is not blameless either. Although most of them are wise and brave people, such as the Chief of Staff, the head of the Shin Bet, and IDF generals, they, too, behave as if they have failed and as if they have a weight on their shoulders. Despite their strong capabilities, their judgment is questioned every day. The public, who is not confident that the security leadership is making the best decisions, is also left with many questions.

The political leadership is failing miserably every day, and the evidence for this is felt in every Israeli home. The abductees in Gaza – 132 adults, women, young people, a child and a baby are there; and there is no decision-maker, no clear outline for war, while their lives hang in the balance. The hardworking and dedicated Israeli people, our brave soldiers – are stuck in a limbo, and there is no one to decide on anything. Many practical questions have been hanging in the air for over seven months: What will happen in Gaza? What will happen tomorrow? What will happen? What is the policy, and what is the next step regarding the evacuees from the north and south? Will they ever return home? Does the broad implication of the situation mean abandoning their fields, leading to wheat not growing again?

A political and security revolution must occur immediately for the situation to change. Since the law states that there should be at least 90 days for new elections, the Knesset must enact the Election Law as soon as possible. There is no choice. They must! The Knesset session will open in a few days, and these are the steps that must be taken immediately:

  1. Gantz and Eisenkot will resign from the government.
  2. The composition of the government will change, and Ben Gvir and Smotrich will join the war cabinet.
  3. The Chief of Staff, the Southern Command commander, the head of Amatz, the commander of 8200, and other commanders responsible for the October 7 disaster will resign from their positions.
  4. The head of the Shin Bet will resign.
  5. Demonstrations across the country for the resignation of the government and the resignation of the prime minister.
  6. The Histadrut will paralyze the economy until a date for elections is set, within 90 days.
  7. Blocking main roads and junctions and a Shabbat strike near the Knesset in Jerusalem.
  8. The opposition with Gantz and Saar will submit a bill to dissolve the Knesset.
  9. Dissolution of the Knesset.

This is the plan, in black and white, with complete transparency. These stages must all fully take place – everything else can and will wait a bit longer until the leadership ranks are decided.

There is no one to do the work. Initiative must be taken, progress must be made, and action must be taken immediately!

About the Author
Shimon Sheves was General Director of the Prime Minister's office under the late Yizhak Rabin. He is currently the Founder and Chairman of HolistiCyber, which provides nation-state level cyber security solution.