Israel cannot heal from October 7 without confronting its failures - opinion
Three years after October 7, Israel must confront its failures, establish a state commission of inquiry, and develop a political strategy beyond military force.
On Wednesday, as the nation marked the third anniversary of the October 7 massacre, Israel unveiled a new date on its calendar of remembrance. This date represented a raw and open wound that would haunt the country for generations to come. Unlike the previous two anniversaries, which were overshadowed by ongoing wars and hostage negotiations, this year marked the first time that the country could look back on the hostages returning home.
With the conflict in Gaza largely subdued, Israel found itself in a unique position: an opportunity for a deeper and more genuine national reckoning.
However, as the nation grappled with this moment, Israel found itself struggling with two dangerous "conceptziyot" or paradigms of thinking. The first was the belief that the country could move forward without a comprehensive investigation into the failures of October 7. Despite the IDF's internal investigations, the government still lacked the thorough examination needed of the government, cabinet, National Security Council, intelligence agencies, and political decisions that shaped Israel's policies towards Hamas and Gaza.
The refusal to establish such a commission highlights a dangerous belief among politicians that Israel did not need this reckoning, and could continue without confronting the full extent of what went wrong.
The second "conceptziya" was the belief that every problem Israel faced was a nail, and every solution was a hammer. With issues in the West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, Israel increasingly turned to military force, expanded military control, and increased IDF presence. While a strong military is essential, it cannot alone solve the challenges Israel faces.
A comprehensive investigation into the failures of October 7 is not just necessary for healing, but also for learning the lessons needed to ensure that mistakes are not repeated.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
