Senior bipartisan Israeli security officials from the last few decades called Benjamin Netanyahu an "existential threat to the State of Israel" in a letter to US congressional leadership ahead of the Israeli PM's speech, it was revealed on Tuesday.
The letter was sent by 17 officials such as former Mossad Director Tamir Pardo, former IDF Chief Dan Haloutz, former Defense Chief Moshe Ya'alon, and former National Security lead Uzi Arad, and was addressed to Speaker Mike Johnson and Reps. Hakeem Jeffries, Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell.
The letter begins by expressing "grave concerns" regarding Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Congress, which the officials state would harm joint objectives of the two states.
The officials claim that the visit "prioritizes his political survivability over our shared interests" and that the trip is an excuse for the PM to "shore up his domestic coalition." Israelis such as Labor lead Yair Golan have been skeptical of the PM's intentions during the war, believing his motivations are political in nature rather than out of desire to return the hostages and end the war.
Former IDF Chiefs of Staff Dan Halutz & Moshe Ya'alon, former Mossad director Tamir Pardo write Congressional leadership: "Netanyahu poses an existential threat to the State of Israel.” pic.twitter.com/I7XrZ0ts9P
— Noga Tarnopolsky נגה טרנופולסקי نوغا ترنوبولسكي (@NTarnopolsky) July 23, 2024
The officials also note that Netanyahu, among other Israeli officials, is facing prosecution for crimes including bribery, fraud and breach of trust, including the so-called Submarine Affair.
Regarding the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, the officials draw attention to the prime minister's allegedly unwillingness to "conceptualize a post-war plan". In recent weeks, the Prime Minister has been accused of "actively sabotaging the possibility of any hostage deal, in order to prevent the collapse of his government."
The Prime Minister, they officials say in the letter, "bears responsibility for the war due to his failed risk assessment of the Gaza border in support of his messianic political partners' demands."
"He alone is to blame for the lack of victory over Hamas."
Existential threat
"We cannot overstate this: Prime Minister Netanyahu poses an existential threat to the State of Israel," the officials wrote.
They also spoke of his lack of clear objectives for the war, his resistance to setting National Security Goals, his lack of plan for the day after and his lack of strategy for dealing with the threat from Iran.
"For decades, he has been inciting Israelis against each other, damaging our national social fabric."
US-Israel relationship
The Israeli officials emphasized the "strong relationship" between the US and Israel, which is "anchored in shared values". They stated that the "immutable bond between Israel and America is vital for the security of both nations."
However, they claimed that this relationship was being severely harmed by the PM, "further endangering Israel."
The letter concluded with the officials asking the US to remain "stalwart allies" regardless of the Prime Minister."
"Our safety and security depends on it."