Ehud Barak Attacks Netanyahu: Israeli Army Is Exhausted and the Government Is Selling Illusions of Victory to the Public
Former Israeli Prime Minister Says the Solution in Lebanon Is Political, Not Military, and Warns of the Most Serious Security and Political Crisis Facing Israel
NYN | Reports and Analyses
Former Israeli Prime Minister and former Defense Minister Ehud Barak launched a sharp attack on Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, accusing it of misleading Israeli public opinion about the reality of the situation on the ground in Lebanon and continuing to promote what he described as “illusions of victory” despite the ongoing attrition suffered by the Israeli military.
Barak: The Official Narrative Does Not Reflect Reality
The Hebrew newspaper Maariv quoted Barak as saying that the Israeli government continues to present an unrealistic picture to the public regarding the outcome of the war, while Hezbollah attacks on northern settlements continue. According to Barak, this exposes the gap between the official narrative and the reality on the ground.
He added that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claims of having inflicted a severe defeat on Hezbollah and set the group back by years are inconsistent with developments in the field. Barak argued that such claims are intended to convince Israelis that a complete military victory is achievable, which he considers unrealistic.
Doubts About the Military Option
Barak asserted that eliminating Hezbollah through military force would require the occupation of all of Lebanon, a scenario he described as impractical and unfeasible. He further argued that targeting villages and infrastructure in southern Lebanon does not weaken Hezbollah; rather, it increases the group’s influence and standing within Lebanon.
He also warned that continuing ground military operations inside Lebanon could produce counterproductive results, recalling Israel’s previous presence in Lebanese territory and the security and political consequences that followed.
Call for a Political Settlement
The former prime minister stressed that ending the confrontation requires a political and diplomatic process involving the Lebanese government alongside regional and international actors. He emphasized that wars typically end through political settlements rather than through prolonged military operations.
Warning of the Most Serious Crisis in Israel’s History
Barak warned that Israel is facing what he described as “the most serious political and security situation in its history,” stating that the Israeli military has reached an unprecedented level of exhaustion and attrition, while the government continues, in his view, to conceal the truth from the public.
He concluded by asserting that the current government has failed to manage the crisis and that continuing along the same path will not achieve the stated objectives. Instead, he argued, it will deepen the political and military deadlock facing Israel.
