Netanyahu's Apology for Blaming Intelligence Chiefs Sparks Controversy

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced criticism after blaming security chiefs for failing to warn him about an impending Hamas attack on October 7. In a now-deleted tweet, Netanyahu claimed that all security officials had assured him that Hamas was deterred, drawing sharp criticism for attempting to shift blame. He later issued a rare apology, acknowledging that his statements were wrong. The statement drew criticism from within his emergency government, with Defense Minister Benny Gantz calling for a retraction. Opposition leader Yair Lapid accused Netanyahu of weakening the IDF by evading responsibility. Former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen emphasized the importance of taking responsibility from the start. Netanyahu's tweet came after he held a press conference where he refused to take direct responsibility for the failures leading to the Hamas attack.