Ehud Olmert accused Netanyahu of keeping Israel in a state of war to the detriment of its people
In a scathing article published in Haaretz, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert blasted current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for extending the war in Gaza, escalating tensions with Hezbollah, and empowering Israeli thugs terrorizing Palestinians in the West Bank.
Olmert explained that Netanyahu should be removed from office and face a trial for his many failures since October 7. “For each of these accusations, Netanyahu must stand trial in the court of the people of Israel. This must not be delayed,” he wrote. “Every additional day that this cursed man continues to bear nominal responsibility for the running of the state is a day that poses a concrete danger to its future and its existence.”
The op-ed pointed to numerous acts for which Netanyahu should be held responsible. “I accuse the prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, of taking deliberate action to prolong the war between Israel and the Palestinian murder organizations,” he wrote. “The desire to drag out the fighting without specifying an end date is the reason precise objectives have not been set for the combat forces.”
Olmert made a similar accusation about the escalating war with Hezbollah. Netanyahu intends “to expand the war and initiate a direct, all-out military confrontation with Hezbollah in the north.” The prime minister is ignoring “French and U.S. mediation… that will bring an end to the current violent conflict.”
Over the past eight months, most of the world’s attention has been on the Israeli military operations in Gaza. However, at the same time, Tel Aviv has advanced its plan to annex the West Bank. Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed, and thousands driven from their homes. Olmert blames Netanyahu for the growing violence.
I accuse the prime minister of Israel of taking deliberate actions meant to cause a widespread flare-up of violence in the West Bank, in the knowledge that this would trigger the expansion of war crimes against Palestinians who are not involved in terrorism in any way. Such crimes are already being committed by many Israelis; usually these are not military conscripts but rather private militias made up of thugs carrying guns that in most cases were given to them – in a questionable process that demands legal review – in a move initiated by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. These weapons serve many of them in their riots and protect them when they brutalize Palestinians: burning their property and destroying the fields that are a source of life and sustenance, as well as directly killing innocent people.
Olmert also pointed to specific decisions that have harmed the Israeli people, including refusing to negotiate the release of the hostages. “His refusal to reach an agreement that would allow all the hostages to return to Israel is based on the argument that it would prevent a total victory.” He continues, “It was meant to be an impossible goal that would allow the prime minister, any time he chooses, to blame the failure to achieve it on the military.”
Noticeably absent from Olmert’s critique of Nentayahu was a concern for the treatment of Palestinians in Gaza. The war in Gaza is vastly popular with the Israeli people. Nearly 80% of Israelis support the war or demand Nentayahu escalate further, while only a fifth say Tel Aviv has gone too far in the Strip.
The op-ed argues that not only is Netanyahu failing to achieve his war aims, but Israel is struggling domestically.“The economy is crashing, public services are crashing, entire areas of the country are deserted and the government has no plan and has made no effort to create a response that could improve the situation and spark a flicker of hope,” Olmert wrote.
The war has come at a huge financial cost to Tel Aviv and the Israeli economy. The war in Gaza is estimated to have cost Israel $60 billion so far, with a massive rebuilding project that will have to be funded in the near future. Additionally, the war has forced many Israelis to leave their jobs, and over 60,000 citizens have been displaced by the fighting along the border with Lebanon.
Netanyahu has refused to sign on to any deal that will see the Israeli captives released in exchange for a permanent end to the fighting before Hamas is eradicated. Top Israeli officials have publicly stated that the prime minister’s goal of eliminating Hamas is impossible.
Still, Tel Aviv has been able to continue the onslaught in Gaza and the tit-for-tat exchanges because of massive US assistance. Olmert warned Netanyahu has made a “deliberate attempt to destroy the political-security-military alliance between Israel and the US,” adding that the “entire Israel Air Force relies completely on American aircraft: fighter planes, transport planes, refueler planes and helicopters. All of Israel’s air power is based on the American commitment to defend Israel.”
While the relationship between Biden and Netanyahu may have soured some after the Israeli leader attacked Washington in a video posted to X last week. Top American officials continue to state that the ties between Israel and the US remain ironclad.
