The Age of Abdication: Who Takes Responsibility for the State's Major Failures?

Maj. Gen. (res.) Giora Eiland analyzes the phenomenon of abdication of responsibility in Israel's national failures, from the Meron disaster through October 7 to the near-miss flight incident from Dubai. He calls on the Chief of Staff to adopt an expansive concept of responsibility and act decisively against Jewish terrorism in Judea and Samaria, while warning of a third intifada and international boycotts.

Maj. Gen. (res.) Giora Eiland argues in an opinion piece that Israel is in an 'Age of Abdication' – a period in which political and security figures shirk responsibility for national failures. He links three events: the Meron disaster, the October 7 massacre, and a near-miss incident on a flight from Dubai about three weeks ago. According to him, in all cases the parties rushed to acknowledge the failure but to blame others, with the Prime Minister leading this approach. Eiland calls on the Chief of Staff and the Commander of the Central Command to adopt an 'expansive concept of responsibility' and act against Jewish terrorism in Judea and Samaria, including creating independent intelligence, gathering evidence, arresting Jews, and confiscating means. He warns that without decisive action, a third intifada could break out and boycotts against Israel could intensify.