As the three-year mark since the October 7 attacks approaches and parliamentary elections draw near, the political discourse within the Israeli regime has become overwhelmingly dominated by finger-pointing. Leaks claiming that the United Arab Emirates had purportedly warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prior to the attacks have reignited public scrutiny. The central question dominating the campaign appears strictly confined to what Netanyahu knew and when, effectively narrowing the scope of national reflection.

Far from signalling a genuine moment of introspection or reckoning, this focus serves primarily to turn Netanyahu into a political scapegoat. By channelling public anger toward the prime minister's alleged failures and oversights, the broader political establishment and the Israeli regime seek to absolve themselves of collective culpability for long-standing colonial policies, systemic abuses, and the devastating military onslaught in the Gaza Strip. Critical issues—such as the reported implementation of the controversial "Hannibal Directive" on October 7—remain completely ignored in mainstream discourse.

Noticeably absent from the electoral debates is any meaningful examination of the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians have been killed and vital infrastructure razed. Moreover, the Israeli regime routinely sidelines the fact that both Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant face outstanding arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity. Key negotiating opportunities that could have secured hostage releases were repeatedly sabotaged, yet these strategic and moral failures receive minimal scrutiny.

Analysts warn that simply unseating Netanyahu will not dismantle the deeply entrenched machinery of domination and military aggression. The current election cycle illustrates an unsettling evasion of accountability, where dehumanisation of Palestinians continues to provide a pretext for ongoing violence. Rather than marking a shift toward peace or accountability, the internal power struggle within the Israeli regime merely perpetuates a cycle of conflict while shielding the political establishment from systemic consequences.

Source: www.aljazeera.com