Change needs to come to Israel's post October 7 state

Key Findings:

Israel's response to tragedy and crises, such as the October 7th Hamas attack, often involves a quick return to normal life. To support this observation, the author recalls a personal experience from February 25, 1996, when a Hamas suicide bomber attacked a Jerusalem bus that he had nearly boarded. He remembers that despite the national trauma of this event, life in Israel quickly resumed, symbolizing resilience as well as a tendency to overlook underlying issues.

However, this swift and immediate response can mask what is under the surface. Recent revelations about Israeli intelligence's prior knowledge of the October 7th attack, particularly regarding Hamas terrorists switching SIM cards, led to initial denials from Prime Minister Netanyahu's office.

It seems that Netanyahu is attempting to distance himself from the tragedy of October 7, and place the responsibility on intelligence failures from the Shin Bet and the IDF. Netanyahu then changed his stance regarding the SIM cards, and stated that he had known about the SIM cards, but to the extent that has been released. The author argues that Netanyahu aims for the SIM cards to remain a distraction and divert public attention from the real systemic problems that lead to the attack in the first place.

The author argues that Israel must address deeper issues beyond intelligence failures, including inequality in military service, flaws in the electoral system, educational setbacks, and misperceptions about border security threats.

The October 7th attack should serve as a catalyst for substantial and fundamental change in Israel, addressing core issues and finding the path to their solutions, rather than focusing on just tactical issues.