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According to media reports, hundreds of people demonstrated again this weekend in front of Benjamin Netanyahu’s house in Jerusalem. There were similar protests in Tel Aviv. Many Israelis accuse the controversial prime minister of failing to prevent Hamas’ attack on the country. His refusal to accept responsibility for why Israel was so defenseless against the Hamas attack on October 7 is also causing great anger, especially among Israel’s liberal Jews.
Among them is Zev Perlmutter (47), a liberal activist and co-organizer of the major protests against Netanyahu’s judicial reform. The software entrepreneur and father of three children from Tel Aviv is critical of Netanyahu’s actions, he said in an interview with Blick.
Blick: Mr. Perlmutter, how did you personally experience Hamas’ brutal attack on Israeli civilians?
Zev Perlmutter: I had just landed in Cologne when the first WhatsApp messages arrived. They were peppered with rocket icons. There was chaos in Israel. The situation was completely unclear. Our house is about 35 kilometers from Gaza. So I wrote to my wife: Pack your things and leave the house!
When did you realize the scale of the attack?
Little by little, news came in and terrible videos appeared on the Internet. Livestreams from Hamas body cameras of terrorists. They killed everyone: visitors to the Supernova music festival, entire families, pregnant women and children, tourists, even Bedouins and Arab Israelis. And they were proud of it. We live in a digital world. Horrific images are part of terrorists’ psychological warfare. Like everyone in Israel, I was in shock. We all felt abandoned and unprotected.
Abandoned by your government?
Naturally. Normally the borders in Israel are very well guarded. But on October 7, everything failed: surveillance technology, the secret service, the army. It was a Jewish holiday. About 600 soldiers were withdrawn from Gaza days earlier to protect settlers in the West Bank. Warnings were ignored. The fact that we were attacked on October 7 is due to government policy. Netanyahu has built a network of nepotism to undermine the rule of law and get out of his own corruption scandal. He removed capable people and surrounded himself with yes-men. The money flowed to religious groups and not government agencies. This weakened all systems. Hamas recognized the situation and took advantage of it. It was the right time for her.
Will those responsible be held accountable?
Before the war, Israel dominated in a climate of protest. The right-wing populist coalition divided society. Then came October 7. Today the nation stands together. This is not the time for criticism. We must now fight Hamas and free the hostages. We all agree on that.
And after the war?
After the war, an independent investigation must determine what led to this terrible massacre, who failed and where. This is what the country will demand. Examinations that must be carried out calmly and professionally. I sincerely hope that this will lead to the end of the Netanyahu government and that new young forces, perhaps from the protest movement, will come to power – hopefully including women, because they are the heroines of our time.
How are the Israelis doing today?
We experience a roller coaster of emotions. The shock was followed by sadness, helplessness and anger. But after just a few days there was hope. A wave of mutual aid developed very quickly. Israel is a small country. The hardships have brought people together. While the government failed in the first weeks, private initiatives functioned in a very professional manner. Even the army was initially privately organized.
Can you explain this to us in more detail?
Major networks have been set up in recent months for the protest movement against judicial reform, sometimes bringing as many as 700,000 demonstrators onto the streets. At that time, people from all areas organized themselves. Be it the ‘Military Brotherhood’, women’s activists, doctors, lawyers, social workers, IT specialists – everyone worked together to save the rule of law and democracy. These structures and those of the NGOs are now helping to evacuate tens of thousands of Israelis, housing them, raising funds and caring for soldiers.
The fight against Hamas is claiming many thousands of victims in Gaza. Does this have consequences for you personally?
Believe me, we don’t want war. We don’t want revenge. But ultimately, we must protect ourselves – and our democracy. We must ensure that a massacre like that of October 7 never happens again. We must not forget that we are threatened by Arab countries. Hamas wants our death, not the well-being of its people. They abuse their citizens as human shields and use their suffering for propaganda purposes.
How do you imagine peace with Gaza?
I have no idea what will happen. We are now in the middle of the storm. It is important to destroy Hamas. I am a liberal and believe in a pragmatic solution. There must be a government in Gaza that wants peace. We will enable the Palestinians to trade and give them technology. Because the people of Gaza, like many other people, are intelligent, creative and very hardworking. They should finally be able to live a happy life.
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
