Harari Blasts Netanyahu Over Gaza War, Warning 2,000 Years of Jewish Tradition Are at Risk
Updated
Updated · Ynetnews · May 27
Harari Blasts Netanyahu Over Gaza War, Warning 2,000 Years of Jewish Tradition Are at Risk
3 articles · Updated · Ynetnews · May 27
Yuval Noah Harari said in a New York Times interview that Benjamin Netanyahu has divided Israel more than any leader in its history and become “the worst enemy of Israeli nationalism.”
In the podcast discussion, Harari argued many Israelis refuse to confront Palestinian suffering in Gaza and said military force alone cannot deliver long-term security or a peace agreement.
He also said Israel’s treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank lacks a security justification and is reducing the chances of a future settlement with the Palestinians.
Harari paired that critique with condemnation of Hamas, saying Yahya Sinwar squandered the political gains of the Oct. 7 attack by killing and abducting civilians instead of limiting the assault to soldiers.
Zooming out, Harari warned Netanyahu’s force-first worldview could erode Israel’s legitimacy abroad—especially among young Americans—and “nullify” 2,000 years of Jewish learning and tolerance.
Has Israel's reliance on force, as historian Yuval Harari claims, betrayed the core values of its 2,000-year history?
Harari says Hamas squandered a victory; could restraint have truly altered the outcome, or was massive retaliation inevitable?
With international warrants and a failing economy, what does long-term 'victory' for Israel actually look like?
Israel at a Crossroads: Harari’s Critique, Gaza War Fallout, and the Crisis of Jewish Identity and Legitimacy
Overview
Yuval Noah Harari strongly criticizes Prime Minister Netanyahu’s handling of the Gaza War, arguing that the government’s actions are putting Israel’s survival at risk. This danger is made worse by the lack of a clear plan for Gaza’s future, which is tied to Netanyahu’s political need to keep his far-right coalition partners, leading to political paralysis. As a result, Israel faces a deepening crisis with no clear strategy, while the moral standing of Judaism is under intense pressure. The ongoing conflict not only threatens immediate security but also challenges Israel’s identity and values.