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The Jerusalem Post · Gaza · 14 Oct 2026

The headline editorialises, one side gets far more space, and the legal stakes go unmentioned.

4.3
/ 10 · article score
scored on 4 of 11 measures · thin coverage

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Netanyahu on October 7: Nobody told Bush to 'go home' after September 11 attacks

Intelligence failures surrounding the October 7 massacre should not automatically lead to a premier's dismissal, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a radio interview with Army Radio on Wednesday, arguing that "nobody told [former US president George W.] Bush to go home after" the September 11 attacks.Netanyahu compared Israel's intelligence failures to those preceding the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York, arguing that those disasters had not automatically led to the removal of the countries' political leaders."There was blindness here," he admitted, "And I can tell you: There was also blindness at Pearl Harbor, when the Japanese bombed the United States. Yes, there was blindness. There was also blindness on September 11, at the Twin Towers. Nobody said: Okay, you have to go home. They didn't say that to Roosevelt; they didn't say that to President Bush."Netanyahu defended his proposal to establish a "national" inquiry committee with equal representation for coalition and opposition members.He argued that a government-appointed commission would lack public trust among opposition voters, while a state commission appointed through the existing judicial framework would be rejected by many of his own supporters. He also suggested modeling the investigation on the bipartisan US commission established after September 11.Additionally, the prime minister doubled down on the position that had he been awakened and informed of the reported unusual Hamas activity on the night before October 7, he would have ordered military preparations and canceled the Nova music festival.The prime minister insisted that Israel's security establishment had repeatedly assessed that Hamas was deterred and had not expected an imminent major attack from Gaza."The answer is no," he said when asked whether he had recognized the warning signs before the attack.Netanyahu warns Iran against attacking Israel ahead of electionHe also warned Iran that any attempt to attack Israel would trigger an unprecedented response."If Iran makes that mistake, [unclear word], and tries to attack us, it will encounter a response it cannot even imagine," Netanyahu said, responding to questions about possible Iranian military action ahead of Israel's October 27 election and the US midterm elections."We are prepared for all those scenarios. I hope we won't have to resort to them, but I can say one thing: Israel will not allow - I will not allow - Iran to have nuclear weapons. As long as I am prime minister, Iran will not have nuclear weapons."He said Israel had completed approximately 60% of its security objectives against the Iranian axis and suggested further operations could be necessary."Just a year ago, I'm saying this as emphatically as I possibly can, Iran was poised to destroy us. We removed a threat to the State of Israel. That is the most important thing," he said.Asked whether Israel was coordinating with Saudi Arabia over recent Houthi attacks, Netanyahu declined to discuss specific countries or security cooperation.He nevertheless claimed Israel's military successes had created opportunities for new regional alliances, saying countries both inside and outside the Middle East were increasingly interested in cooperation.Netanyahu also pointed to what he described as an International Monetary Fund projection of 4.5% economic growth for Israel, arguing that the economy's performance demonstrated the success of his security and economic policies.Netanyahu says election is 'extremely close,' pushes against smaller partiesThe prime minister said he hoped the election would proceed as scheduled but warned that Israel's enemies could attempt attacks or rocket fire to create an impression of Israeli vulnerability.Netanyahu also described the contest as extremely close."I'm worried because this election, right now, is tied," he said, adding that he had begun traveling across the country to encourage Likud supporters to vote.Discussing the government he hopes to establish after the election, Netanyahu said his first preference was a right-wing coalition consisting of his existing political partners.However, he did not completely rule out cooperation with opposition parties, including those associated with former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot.Netanyahu said any potential coalition partner would have to accept his opposition to Palestinian statehood and support his government's security policies."If you accept our policies, of course we will talk with them," he said, while emphasizing that he intended to form a right-wing government first.He criticized Eisenkot's positions during the war in Gaza, accusing him of supporting a premature end to military operations and withdrawal before Israel had achieved its objectives."I'm telling you that after October 7, I had to struggle, struggle against Gadi, who wanted to stop the war and withdraw. He said: We'll come back after two years and see."Netanyahu: Defense Ministry will remain in Likud's handsNetanyahu also said Likud would keep the Defense Minister portfolio in a future government, while cautioning against distributing ministerial positions before the election results were known.His statement came as National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir continued his campaign to secure the portfolio for himself in a future Netanyahu-led government. Ben-Gvir has repeatedly affirmed he would demand the position of defense minister as a condition for joining Netanyahu's coalition.The prime minister repeatedly warned right-wing voters against supporting smaller parties that might fail to enter the Knesset, arguing that such votes could undermine the chances of forming another government under his leadership.He said he planned campaign stops in Kiryat Malachi, Kiryat Gat, Beersheba and Beit Shemesh on Wednesday to encourage turnout.Netanyahu also defended his government's settlement policies, claiming it had established or legalized 104 communities and more than 100 farms. He pledged to continue pursuing security measures and settlement construction while criticizing the High Court of Justice's intervention in government decisions.

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