Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has drawn parallels between himself and former U.S. Presidents Franklin Roosevelt and George Bush in response to criticism over his handling of the recent Hamas terror attack. In a recent interview on CNN's State of the Union, Netanyahu was questioned by host Dana Bash about his refusal to accept personal responsibility for the October 7 attack.
Netanyahu responded, "Ive already addressed that many times and I said this whole question will be addressed after the war." He then posed a rhetorical question, "Did people ask Franklin Roosevelt, after Pearl Harbor, that question? Did people ask George Bush after the surprise attack on September 11?"
The Prime Minister further stated, "It's a question that needs to be asked, and these questions will be asked." He emphasized that the current priority should be to unite the country for the sole purpose of achieving victory. "Thats what I did, we formed a unity government, the countrys united as never before, and thats what we have to pursue," Netanyahu added.
When asked about the disappointment of Israelis over his refusal to accept responsibility, Netanyahu reiterated that this issue would be addressed post-war. He outlined his immediate responsibilities as achieving victory and ensuring the safe return of hostages.
A recent opinion poll by the Maariv newspaper, as reported by the Times of Israel, revealed that 80 percent of Israelis believe Netanyahu should accept responsibility for the failures leading to the Hamas attack, which resulted in over 1,400 fatalities. The poll also indicated that only 28 percent of respondents believe Netanyahu is better suited as Prime Minister compared to National Unity party leader Benny Gantz, who received 49 percent support.
The poll also revealed that 65 percent of respondents support a ground offensive to destroy Hamas. In response to this, Netanyahu told Bash, "without it, none of us have a future. And it's not only our war, it's your war too. It's the battle of civilization against barbarism."
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