Contract between settlers, government collapsed: Israeli ex-minister
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The former minister of education says that Al-Aqsa Flood operation was more than just a security breach.
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Israeli occupation soldiers look on as a settler boards a bus in the "Qiryat Shemona" on the border with Lebanon, before being evacuated on October 22, 2023 (AFP)
Commander of the Southern Region in the Israeli occupation military, Yaron Finkelman, acknowledged on Tuesday that Hamas dealt a severe blow to the Israeli occupation army with the Al-Aqsa Flood operation on October 7th.
Describing the initial response to the operation, Finkelman said that on that "horrible" day, the army "did not fulfill [its] mission, and these events agonize us, especially for me personally."
On his part, former Education Minister Shai Piron considered that "the contract between the state and its citizens has been violated" in light of the success of the Resistance operation.
Read more: The Israeli economy also a direct casualty of Al-Aqsa Flood operation
"It doesn't matter if this is in the north or the south, Israelis do not trust their army and government, in light of what happened on Simchat Torah [October 7], and they are not convinced that what happened in the south [Gaza] won't happen to them in the north [Lebanon], even if they are provided with the best protection."
He pointed out that "there is a deep rift, more than just a security breach, and the current situation is a collapse of the fundamental contract between the state and its citizens."
On the discrimination of the Israeli government in dealing with settlers from different regions, the commentator on Haredi affairs at Channel 12 noted that the responses received by Israeli settlers from the political leadership differ between the north and the south.
Read more: Israeli settlers: We might not return to North even if war ends
"In the south, we heard [Israeli Finance Minister] Smotrich saying they are investing in protection because they won't need protection. I don't know if the rest of the leadership agrees with this formula," Yair Cherki said.
"Regarding the north, there are more complex considerations and hesitation about managing a battle on two fronts. I hear different discussions in the cabinet; they talk about wide protection for northern towns, meaning that the rocket threat won't be lifted!"
He further commented, "As for the removing of the [Hezbollah elite force] Radwan Force away from the borders, no one knows where to. Effectively, this is not a removal of the threat but pushing it further; our eyes are on Gaza, even though the threat in the north is more important."
Read more: Israeli captives case broiling, resignations hit relevant forum hard
Shame
Earlier today, the families of captives held by the Resistance in Gaza organized a protest in "Tel Aviv," during which one of the captive's grandson stated: "A month ago, the contract between the people and the state was shattered. Hamas represents a great and terrible threat, but as soon as 240 people were abducted, the entire population is not free."
Al-Qassam proposed last month for an all-for-all exchange of prisoners, which was met with approval by the Israeli captives' families who launched angry protests demanding their government take the deal.
The group's spokesperson Abu Obeida revealed on Wednesday that Hamas wanted to release 12 foreign captives last week, but its efforts were obstructed by the Israeli occupation.
He confirmed that the Resistance group was prepared to release foreign captives, though the situation on the ground and the Israeli occupation were jeopardizing their lives and disrupting the release process.
However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disregarded the proposal and chose to neglect the request to make an agreement.
Israeli media said on Saturday that the official in charge of the Hamas captive file, Gal Hirsch, was dismissed when he arrived at a gathering for the families of the prisoners in "Tel Aviv".
The Israeli Kan channel said that the families of Israeli captives gathered in large numbers in various parts of "Israel", raising the slogan “Shame, shame” and demanding the release of the captives in Gaza.
In turn, the Israeli Channel 12 website reported that violent confrontations took place between relatives of the dead and captured Israelis while protesting in front of Netanyahu's residence in occupied Al-Quds.
