Benjamin Netanyahu: Apologize? Of course, I'm very sorry

Prime minister Israelin an interview for Time magazine, referred to the war in the Gaza Strip and the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. As the magazine wrote, the head of government has not apologized for “leaving Israel defenseless against the attack” for 10 months. “His only apology was a post on social media, blaming his own security chiefs for not thwarting the attack,” we read in the publication. Therefore, the newspaper wrote, the first question in the conversation was whether he would apologize.

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“Apologise?” Netanyahu asked. “Of course. I am very sorry that something like this happened. You always look back and say: Could we have done something to prevent this?” he added.

The Israeli prime minister reiterated that the occupied Palestinian territories of East Jerusalem and the West Bank are “part of our homeland.” “We intend to stay there,” he declared, which – as the American magazine points out – could mean that the chance for a two-state solution is receding even further.

As Time notes, the politician has yet to present a credible plan to end the war or a vision of how Israelis and Palestinians can peacefully coexist. Instead, he is preparing for an escalation of the conflict on even more fronts: in the north, with Hezbollah in Lebanonin the Persian Gulf with Huti In Yemen and above all with Iran.

“We are facing a war not only with Hamas,” Netanyahu said. “We are facing (…) the Iranian axis and we understand that we need to organize ourselves to provide ourselves with greater defense,” he added.

According to Time, if the war in Gaza escalates into a regional conflict, the consequences for Israel and the world will be unpredictable. USA and the West risk being drawn into yet another difficult turn of events in the Middle East. Israelis increasingly fear that the war, ostensibly launched to save Israel, is actually threatening it. One of their deepest fears is that the spiral of violence and the image of Israel it creates for generations to come will harm the country's survival and identity.

For Netanyahu, who says he is fighting an existential war, it is a risk he is aware of but is willing to take, Time reports. “Being destroyed has greater consequences for Israel’s security,” he said. “I would rather have bad press than a good obituary,” he added.

The prime minister has once again expressed opposition to the creation of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state. He has announced that he would allow the Palestinians limited autonomy in the occupied territories, while Israel would primarily exercise control over security.

“I would like to see a civilian administration led by the people of Gaza, perhaps with the support of regional partners,” Netanyahu said. “Demilitarization led by Israel, civilian administration led by Gaza,” he explained.

The interview with the Prime Minister of Israel for Time magazine took place on August 4 in his office in Jerusalem.