As Israel prepares for its first election since the surprise attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on October 7, 2023, the issue of accountability for security failures has emerged as a central theme.
According to the Associated Press, ahead of the election on October 27, both the ruling Likud party led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the opposition are highlighting the October 7 attack in their campaigns. The opposition is focusing on the fact that the attack occurred during the current government's term, intensifying calls for Netanyahu's accountability. They have pledged to establish an official inquiry into the attack and to abolish military exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jewish men.
Gadi Eisenkot, Netanyahu's main rival and former chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces, stated on social media platform X, "This is the most fateful election in Israel's history, a choice between evading service and serving, between taking responsibility and fleeing from it."
In contrast, Netanyahu has shifted the blame for the security failures to the military and intelligence agencies, asserting that he has since led Israel through a crisis following the war. In a recent speech at the United Nations, he remarked, "Our enemies expected us to collapse. But we did not collapse. Instead, we rose and fought like lions."
Following the October 7 attack, Israel launched a large-scale military operation in the Gaza Strip and has since engaged in conflicts with Hezbollah in Lebanon, Yemen, and Iran. Despite a series of resignations from senior officials in Israel's security agencies, Netanyahu remains in his position.
As a result, this election is being viewed as a de facto referendum on Netanyahu's political accountability, according to the AP.
A survey by the Israel Democracy Institute (IDI) found that over 60% of Israelis believe that perceptions of the October 7 attack will be a key factor in determining their voting choices. Among Jewish respondents, this figure rises to 68%.
However, some analysts caution that the assessment of the October 7 attack may not necessarily favor one side. Tamar Hermann, a researcher at IDI, noted, "Just because everyone considers October 7 important does not mean they will all reach the same conclusion."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.