3 Israeli ministers mull resignation to hold Netanyahu accountable
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu attends a press conference in Tel Aviv, Israel, Oct. 18, 2023. (AFP Photo)


At least three Israeli ministers have reportedly been contemplating resignation to hold Premier Benjamin Netanyahu accountable for Oct. 7 events, Israeli Daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported Monday.

The newspaper did not name the three ministers.

"We can't believe this situation. Netanyahu simply must not be allowed to continue," the newspaper quoted one of the ministers as saying.

Several Israeli security officials and politicians have admitted that they could not foresee the attack.

"Netanyahu refuses to take responsibility for the Oct. 7 events, although a few believe that he will withstand the wave of anger that awaits him following the end of the war," the newspaper said.

Israelis have staged protests demanding Netanyahu's resignation amid the Gaza conflict.

The latest development comes after Israeli daily Haaretz reported Sunday growing unease within the military alleging Netanyahu was waging a campaign to place the blame on the army.

Haaretz quoted an unidentified military official who said "Netanyahu is orchestrating a campaign, collecting evidence against the army and privately explaining why he should not be held responsible. He keeps reiterating that he did not receive the intelligence information."

Unease within military

The newspaper said Netanyahu appointed a spokesperson for coordinating with Israeli military correspondents just four days after the start of the war.

"Eli Feldstein previously served as a spokesperson for the West Bank Division of the army, which made him well-acquainted with military correspondents. He later became the spokesperson for the National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir," it said.

Several sources reportedly described the appointment as unusual, especially during wartime when the defense minister and chief of staff typically maintain continuous communication with military correspondents.

Last Friday, the Israeli news site Walla reported that Netanyahu "actively works on building his case against the army."

The site quoted sources close to the prime minister as saying that "his wife, Sara, asked him to gather all public and classified communications from the Security Cabinet meetings and discussions on defense issues."

She "also asked him to collect all quotes from senior current and former defense officials reflecting erroneous intelligence assessments regarding Hamas capabilities and intentions."

Haaretz noted that "since the start of the war, Netanyahu has met with various media heads in Israel for the first time in many years."

It also quoted an unnamed minister from his Likud party who said: "Anyone who thinks they can escape responsibility for the most severe failure since the establishment of the state is making a serious mistake."

With reference to the possible dissolution of the current government after the war, the minister said "the fate of this government was determined on Oct. 7, just as the fate of Likud was also settled on that Black Saturday. Things will not continue as they were before."

"Those who seek to evade their responsibilities will only worsen their situation as the Israeli public holds their anger," he added.