153: Where was Netanyahu on 7/10? With Elliot Kaufman

*In the War Room* provides an inside account of Israel’s leadership decisions following the October 7 attack, moving beyond standard news reporting to detail the bitter rivalries within the war cabinet. Netanyahu, Gallant, and Gantz often operated as adversaries rather than a unified team, leading to strategic delays and friction that hampered the war effort. While the failure to anticipate the initial assault remains a primary strategic oversight, the subsequent inability to mount a rapid, cohesive response highlights a lack of decisive civilian oversight. Furthermore, the persistent American push for de-escalation often proved counterproductive, inadvertently emboldening Hamas and complicating Israel’s military objectives. Ultimately, the American Jewish community’s failure to mobilize effectively reflects a long-standing reliance on establishment-style politics that proves insufficient during moments of existential crisis and rising antisemitism.