Jerusalem Post urges Israeli leaders to explain October 7 failures

In Israel, the editorial board of The Jerusalem Post called after Yom Kippur on political and military leaders to explain their decisions and mistakes related to the events of October 7. The publication stressed that collective acknowledgment of the failure must not blur the personal responsibility of officials entrusted with protecting people.

Questions for the leadership

In an editorial, the newspaper noted that reservists repeatedly returned to service, while volunteers had for years helped families whose lives had changed fundamentally. According to the authors, these people have the right to demand answers from those who made decisions: why the assessment that Hamas could be deterred was adopted, what happened to the warnings, and why some families waited for help on October 7.

The Jerusalem Post writes that explanations are needed, in particular, by parents deciding whether they can raise children near the border, as well as by military personnel who must trust their commanders. Acknowledgment of responsibility, the editorial board believes, should include a description of mistakes within the authority of specific leaders and the actions they plan to take going forward.

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Personal responsibility

The publication also urged society to assess its own behavior in public discussions more critically: to verify claims being shared and not justify cruelty with political sympathies. As a practical example, the editorial board cited family WhatsApp groups, where people can correct false information or acknowledge unfounded accusations.

Before Yom Kippur, around 150,000 people attended the concluding Selichot prayers at the Western Wall in Jerusalem and in the surrounding area. Those present included former hostages, a survivor of the mass killing at the Nova festival, as well as political and religious figures. The editorial board noted that the traditional prayer contains a confession in the plural, but everyone who recites it must also reflect on personal responsibility.