Daijiworld Media Network - Jerusalem

Jerusalem, May 10: Israeli Culture and Sport Minister Miki Zohar on Sunday claimed that the planning for the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack took place during the government led by former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid in 2022.

His remarks came despite the fact that the deadly attack was carried out while the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in power.

Speaking in an interview with Radio 103 FM, Zohar criticised the Bennett-Lapid government, stating that it was the first coalition in Israel’s history to include an Arab party.

According to him, Hamas and other extremist groups interpreted the coalition arrangement as a sign of weakness.

“How does the extremist Islamic mind work? It exists in Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. It identifies weakness when you are not clear in your stance against your enemy,” Zohar said.

He alleged that Hamas saw a fragmented government supported by an Islamist party and identified an opportunity.

Zohar further warned that if a future government again depended on Arab parties, “the next October 7 will be on its way.”

At the same time, he acknowledged that the October 7 massacre had occurred “on our watch” under Netanyahu’s government, but claimed the attack had been “woven together” during the tenure of Bennett and Lapid.

He also alleged that intelligence assessments showed former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar decided to proceed with the attack after observing what he described as weakness in the previous Israeli government.

Zohar additionally linked internal divisions in Israel over judicial reforms to Hamas’s decision-making process.

“The entire State of Israel, from Right and Left, received a resounding slap in the face,” he said, while adding that Israel later managed to recover and defeat its enemies despite the tragedy.

Both Bennett and Lapid strongly condemned Zohar’s remarks, accusing Netanyahu’s government of attempting to evade responsibility for the October 7 attack.

Bennett said the government was launching “another campaign to evade responsibility for the blood of those murdered on October 7.”

He accused Netanyahu of strengthening Hamas over the years by allowing financial support and failing to stop rocket attacks and other threats from Gaza.

Lapid also criticised the government, stating that it had ignored repeated warnings, strengthened Hamas as policy and led Israel into what he described as the greatest disaster faced by Jewish people since the Holocaust.

“At the very least, be ashamed,” Lapid said in response to Zohar’s statements.

The controversy comes amid renewed political tensions following the formation of a new electoral alliance between Bennett and Lapid under the banner “Together” ahead of upcoming elections.

Although Bennett, Lapid and other opposition leaders have stated they would not include Arab parties in a future coalition, analysts say it remains uncertain whether the opposition can secure a parliamentary majority without such support.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu remains among the few senior Israeli officials who have not resigned following the October 7 attacks.

Calls for a state commission of inquiry into the attack have intensified, though the political leadership has repeatedly resisted establishing such a probe.

Disagreements continue within Israel over the nature of any investigation and who should lead it, particularly amid ongoing tensions between the government and the judiciary.

Opposition leaders, including Bennett, have pledged to establish a formal state commission of inquiry into the October 7 attacks if they return to power after the elections.