Israel Minister: Netanyahu Not 'Main Culprit' in Oct 7 Probe

Culture Minister Miki Zohar has asserted that the state commission of inquiry into the October 7 Hamas-led massacre will not identify Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the 'main culprit.' In a statement regarding the investigation, Zohar emphasized that the failure to prevent the attacks was not limited to political leadership.

Zohar claimed that 'all Israeli citizens were complacent' prior to the tragic events, suggesting a broader societal responsibility for the security lapse. Additionally, the minister addressed the ongoing 'Qatargate' scandal, characterizing the behavior of the suspects as 'immoral' while noting that their actions may not necessarily constitute a criminal offense. The minister also expressed support for Urich, though specific details regarding this reference were not provided in the statement.

Culture Minister Miki Zohar weighed in on the highly anticipated probe into the security failures surrounding the October 7 attacks. His comments focused on the potential findings regarding Prime Minister Netanyahu's role in the disaster. Zohar explicitly stated that the investigation would not point to the Prime Minister as the 'main culprit' for the events that transpired.

This perspective shifts the focus from singular leadership accountability to a more distributed view of responsibility. By asserting that the Prime Minister would not be singled out, Zohar signaled a defense of the current administration's conduct during the critical hours of the attack.

Zohar provided a broader context for the security breach, attributing the failure to a collective lapse in alertness. He claimed that 'all Israeli citizens were complacent' ahead of the Hamas-led massacre. This statement implies that the intelligence and operational failures were symptomatic of a wider societal mindset rather than solely a breakdown in government command.

The minister's characterization of national complacency suggests that the inquiry may highlight systemic issues rather than focusing exclusively on high-level decision-making. This framing could influence the public discourse surrounding the final report of the commission.

Minister Zohar also addressed the separate but politically sensitive issue of the Qatargate investigation. This scandal involves allegations regarding undisclosed contacts and potential influence peddling involving officials and foreign entities. Zohar offered a nuanced assessment of the suspects' behavior.

He described the actions taken by the Qatargate suspects as 'immoral'. However, he qualified this judgment by stating that the actions were 'not necessarily criminal.' This distinction highlights the legal complexities involved in the case and the minister's view that while ethically questionable, the conduct may not meet the threshold for criminal prosecution.

Amidst the discussion of investigations and national security failures, Minister Zohar also directed praise toward an individual identified as Urich. The source material did not provide the full context of who Urich is or the specific reasons for the praise, but the inclusion of this comment indicates Zohar's support for this figure.

The mention of Urich stands in contrast to the critical assessments of the general populace and the Qatargate suspects, suggesting a specific endorsement of Urich's conduct or contributions during this period of scrutiny.