The Blame for October 7 Lies With More Than Just One Camp

The Jerusalem Post's editorial board contends that the Israeli public's acceptance of failure is being tested by the evasion of responsibility surrounding the October 7 massacre. The piece specifically calls out remarks by Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar, who suggested the attack was planned during the previous Bennett-Lapid government due to perceived weakness. The Post argues this is a hollow deflection, as the public judges a government on its ability to recognize threats and prevent catastrophe during its tenure. The editorial emphasizes that the 'conceptzia'—the flawed assumptions and complacency—that led to the massacre did not originate with any single government but developed over years, involving not just politicians but also military, intelligence, and policy experts. The paper insists that confronting these uncomfortable truths and launching thorough investigations are essential, rather than engaging in political posturing. The core message is that accountability for October 7 is a shared burden, not one that can be neatly placed on a single political faction.

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[October 7] might have happened on our watch, but [the plan] was formed during the Bennett-Lapid government. Sinwar planned it out once he saw the weakness of that government.