The Haaretz investigation and doubts about Netanyahu

 An investigation by *Haaretz* into responsibility for the October 7, 2023, massacre highlights what many had already suspected was far more than a mere possibility. Rumors regarding the oddities and shortcomings of Israel’s defense apparatus had raised legitimate questions about the events and how the situation was handled. It has now emerged that the President of the United Arab Emirates personally called Netanyahu; during a 45-minute conversation, he warned him of a potential threat capable of destabilizing the entire region. This was a desperate attempt to alert Israel to the imminent danger; Emirati intelligence services—having learned of preparations for a horrific operation through a direct contact with a senior Hamas official—had relayed the threat to the Shin Bet, whose chief informed Netanyahu as early as September 15. Subsequent meetings included recommendations to bolster defenses along the borders with both Gaza and the West Bank. However, these measures were never implemented, prompting the UAE President to attempt direct contact with Israel’s top leadership. The *Haaretz* investigation has triggered not only threats against the newspaper but also a denial from the Israeli Prime Minister’s office, which dismissed the report as an absolute lie; nevertheless, both the former head of the Shin Bet and the former Chief of Staff of the armed forces have confirmed they were never informed of the phone call between the two heads of state. *Haaretz*’s sources are all based outside Israel and include an advisor to the Emirati president. Netanyahu disregarded not only intelligence from the United Arab Emirates but also information from Egyptian intelligence services—which have long possessed accurate data regarding the Gaza Strip. When informed by Cairo’s intelligence chief that a horrific event was in the making, the Israeli Prime Minister reportedly claimed the situation was under control, focusing instead on the West Bank—located on the opposite side from the actual threat. Let us recall the facts: the defense of the kibbutz where the massacre took place was inadequate; it was a community of progressives—out of step with the government’s stance and maintaining friendly relations with Palestinians—making them easily expendable for anyone pursuing a specific political and military agenda. Moreover, while not conclusively proven, allegations that the Israeli premier funded Hamas are real and substantial. Was the error of October 7th merely a miscalculation, or was something else at play? One must recall the many times Netanyahu—often using ridiculous excuses—stalled attempts to establish a two-state solution, aiming to delay it indefinitely while simultaneously expanding settlements in open violation of all agreements. It remains to be seen whether *Haaretz* can evade Tel Aviv’s censorship and continue its investigation; yet, one cannot ignore that the events of October 7th served as a self-manufactured justification for the extermination and annihilation of Gaza—with the aim of seizing the territory in the future—as well as for the war in Lebanon, military interventions in Syria, and the conflict with Iran, into which Netanyahu dragged the US and jeopardized the global economy. It all stemmed from what was deemed in Israel a legitimate retaliation and reprisal for the events of October 7th, driven largely by a far-right government and a prime minister absolutely unwilling to relinquish power. For the moment, these remain suspicions, but if the investigation proceeds, facts might emerge that would come as anything but a surprise.