Prominent Israeli Historian Slams Netanyahu’s Government, Citing ‘Donkeys’ in Charge
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, renowned Israeli author and historian Yuval Noah Harari has launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet, deeming it responsible for the most significant disaster in the history of the Israeli state. In an article published in the newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, Harari asserted that the regime has been led by figures incapable of identifying and confronting threats since the October 7th operation.
Harari described the past four years under Netanyahu’s government as the most difficult and dangerous period since the establishment of the Israeli state, in an article titled “Lions Led by Donkeys.” He severely criticized the cabinet’s priorities before the war commenced, stating that the government spent months advancing plans to weaken the Supreme Court and implement extensive judicial reforms, despite warnings from security institutions about increasing threats from Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran.
The historian added that Israeli security institutions had presented the cabinet with a series of clear warnings about the potential for a large-scale military confrontation in the months leading up to the October 7th operation. According to him, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, then-Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, and several other military and intelligence commanders were among those who raised these concerns.
Harari emphasized that Netanyahu’s cabinet ignored these warnings and continued with its “judicial coup,” a process he believes paved the way for the October 7th attack. Harari’s criticisms were not limited to the cabinet’s performance before the October 7th operation; he also strongly questioned Netanyahu’s management of the war.
He stated that while the Israeli regime achieved a series of successes and important military operations during the war, the cabinet failed to translate these achievements into stable political and strategic outcomes. Harari noted that Israeli military operations against targets linked to Hezbollah and Iran, along with other security operations, have not yielded lasting political gains for the state. He pointed out that after years of conflict, the regime continues to face the same fundamental challenges.
He elaborated that the Hamas movement remains present in the Gaza Strip, Hezbollah is regaining some of its capabilities in Lebanon, and concurrently, the influence of other regional powers is increasing. Harari stressed that Tel Aviv has failed to achieve lasting political or security stability, despite heavy military and human costs.
The Israeli historian also accused Netanyahu’s cabinet of squandering the wave of international support and sympathy for the Israeli state following the October 7th operation. He stated that Netanyahu’s policies have weakened “Israel’s” standing on the international stage, with even its closest allies widely criticizing its performance.
Harari concluded his article with a stark warning to Israelis, stating that there is still a possibility to correct the situation, but time is rapidly running out. He described the upcoming elections as the last opportunity to reform the direction of the Israeli state and called for an end to the era he characterized as being managed by “donkeys”—an era marked by crises, internal divisions, and consecutive wars.
