כ׳ תמוז ה׳תשפ״ה | July 15, 2025
“Netanyahu Should Have Resigned October 8th”
Australian business magnate and personal shliach of the Rebbe for shleimus Haaretz writes about the time he believed Prime Minister Netanyahu was the best leader for Israel. “Sadly, things have changed… As hard as it is to say, Netanyahu should have resigned on October 8th.”
Australian business magnate and personal shliach of the Rebbe for shleimus Haaretz writes about the time he believed Prime Minister Netanyahu was the best leader for Israel. “Sadly, things have changed… As hard as it is to say, Netanyahu should have resigned on October 8th.”
By Rabbi Yoseph Yitzchak Gutnick
There was a time I believed that Bibi was the best leader to guide the Jewish State. When he defeated Shimon Peres — who, along with Yossi Beilin, championed the creation of a Palestinian state — I was convinced that Bibi was the strong, strategic leader Israel needed. And at the time, he was.
But sadly, things have changed.
Over the years, we’ve seen a repeated pattern of decisions that weakened our position and placed us in real danger. He voted for the expulsion from Gush Katif. He supported the Wye Agreement. He gave the Bar-Ilan speech, granting legitimacy to the two-state solution. He led repeated wars in Gaza and Lebanon without ever reaching decisive victory. He also orchestrated the Shalit deal, in which over a thousand terrorists were released — including the murderer Yahya Sinwar — creating a dangerous precedent of surrender to kidnapping extortion.
Then came the disaster of October 7th.
It wasn’t just an intelligence failure. It was a failure of deterrence, preparedness, and vision. Hamas armed itself, organized, and planned. The signs were in plain sight. The responsibility — rested with the government, and at its head was Netanyahu.
And the pain didn’t end there.
More than 900 soldiers — the best of our sons — have already sacrificed their lives in this war. They gave their lives to save civilians, defend our borders, and confront evil. We must never forget them. We must stand by their families, who live daily with unhealable pain. Their sacrifice is absolute. It must not be in vain.
And at the same time, the government approved the release of convicted terrorists — some of whom have already returned, or will return, to attack us again. The hostages and their families deserve all our love, prayers, and collective embrace. But true leadership must know how to protect lives while safeguarding the future of the nation. Compassion must be accompanied by responsibility.
Yes, Netanyahu has led many important initiatives — including key moves with world leaders that strengthened Israel’s security, the targeted eliminations of terrorist leaders, and operations in Iran, for which we were blessed with great Heavenly assistance. Unfortunately, the regime in Tehran remains in power, continues to fund terror, and openly calls for Israel’s destruction.
And now once again, there’s renewed talk of a “Palestinian civil autonomy” — a fictitious political entity in the heart of Biblical Israel. This is a dangerous illusion. Every territorial concession in the past has led to rockets, tunnels, and terror. There is no such thing as a “demilitarized Palestinian autonomy” alongside a secure Israel. There never was. There never will be.
Just last week, when Netanyahu was asked about the possibility of implementing a two-state solution, Trump responded: “I don’t know, that’s a question for Bibi.” And the Prime Minister quickly clarified: “The Palestinians should have all the powers to govern themselves, but none of the powers to threaten us. That means full security control will always remain in our hands.”
This is not a political issue. It is an existential one.
And as hard as it is to say — it must be said: Netanyahu should have resigned on October 8th. That would have been the responsible path. He should have allowed the nation to reunite under new leadership and begin to rebuild trust. That moment has passed, but the need remains.
Israel stands at a crossroads. The world is watching. Our enemies are watching. But more than anyone, our people are watching — searching for clarity, strength, and truth.
We owe it to the fallen.
We owe it to the hostages.
We owe it to ourselves.
We need leadership grounded not in survival — but in principle.
We need courage — not calculations.
We need responsibility — not as blame, but as a foundation for rebuilding.
I write this not as a politician, but as a Jew concerned for the future of our land and our people. And I write this also as the personal emissary of the Lubavitcher Rebbe on the matter of Shleimus HaAretz — a mission rooted in responsibility, truth, and deep love for the people of Israel.
It’s time to lead.
It’s time to restore faith.
It’s time to secure the future.
COMMENTS
As a shliach of the Rebbe, our mission is to strengthen Torah, mitzvos, and Jewish unity not to engage in partisan politics or personal attacks on leaders. Yes, there have been painful mistakes, and October 7th was a national tragedy, but it was an institutional failure built over years, not the fault of one man alone. Right now, in the midst of war and global pressure, there is simply no leader with Netanyahu’s experience, strategic ability, and international standing to navigate Israel through these challenges. Criticizing or calling for his resignation only weakens our nation and emboldens our enemies. True leadership now means standing together, strengthening our faith, and praying for the success of our soldiers, our people, and yes — our leaders, that they have the wisdom and strength to protect Am Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael.
Why October 8th? He was told by the defense establishment that Hamas is deterred. So why should he quit on October 8th for something that isn’t his fault?
Out of the candidates who could have בדרך הטבע been voted in, who would have done a better job in your view?
To be that strong and follow the Rebbe’s please and command like a chossid, you need to be a chossid, and I’m not sure there are any chassidim that would בדרך הטבע be elected. We’re in golus and we need the Geula! That’s the only solution in my opinion. We need the words to realize that we gotta translate the miracles we saw and continue to see into recognizing that Hashem is involved in our lives and we should appreciate that by doing what He wants more!
Your statement that “He voted for the expulsion from Gush Katif” is factually incorrect. Benjamin Netanyahu voted against the 2005 expulsion of the Gush Katif settlements.
As Finance Minister in Sharon’s cabinet, he not only publicly opposed the disengagement plan and supported a national referendum, but also officially registered a “no” vote during the key cabinet sessions:
In February 2005, Netanyahu stated that he “intends to vote against the decision to evacuate Jewish settlements as part of the Gaza disengagement.” On August 7, 2005, he submitted his letter of resignation and formally voted “no” on the first stage of the plan—targeting three Gaza settlements—which passed in a 17–5 vote. Subsequently, on August 15, 2005, the second stage—covering the rest of Gush Katif—was approved in a 16–4 vote; but by then, Netanyahu had already resigned and was not part of that decision.
It is important to get the facts right. Inaccuracies like this undermine the credibility of your reporting and the trust of your readership
I did think Netanyahu had some blame in the Gush Katiff expulsion, for example he could have threatened to make coalition or government fall if they would go through with it. Like could he have resigned earlier? I thought there was an option that would have helped that he did not take. At the same time, i heard of a family deciding to stop criticizing him (among themselves) and miraculously he started to advocate for them at a meeting with Putin, though it hadn’t been in his agenda. Praying that he and all leaders and all of us can be seen for our potential good and empowered to really do Torah and Mitzvoth according to the way of the Rebbe’s directives.
Netanyahou acctuly voted twice in favor And only the third time against
You list his failures but don’t give him credit for the things he did that nobody else would do any of the other leaders would have ended the war long ago vchohaina rabos
As written earlier, Benyamin Netanyahu not only voted against the Gaza disengagement plan both times, but he also resigned from the cabinet the night before the vote.
At the time, Netanyahu was Israel’s Finance Minister. He resigned from the government in protest against Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s unilateral withdrawal plan. Netanyahu argued that the disengagement would transform the Gaza Strip into a base for Islamic terrorism, posing a serious threat to Israel’s security.
May we — the Rebbe’s Chassidim — be seen for our potential good and be empowered to sincerely fulfill Torah and Mitzvoth according to the Rebbe’s directives, hastening the coming of Moshiach now.
This article pulls out many issues from the past, which are true, but should have been addressed then.
The issues he mentions from the present, like uniting the nation, taking responsibility, the ongoing war in Gaza, etc. – have no source in the Rebbe’s sichos.
So, it gives the filling that he is only using the Rebbe’s sichos to bring out his own hergeishim..
the rebbes instruction how to deal with those who claim we stole their land is clear and nothing to do with politic maneuvers and votes in Knesset. we have to tell them simply Hashem created and owns the world and gives it to whom he wants. He gave the land of Israel to the Jewish people as a gift and inheritance. When we tell them that the heavenly chieftains who rule those countries [70 Sarim of Noga] will bow down to that decree and the non-Jewish leaders will follow
Bh
For over a half a century, world leaders have pursued peace in the Middle East, investing billions of dollars and immeasurable effort. Despite this, Israel’s security and regional stability
The Rebbe proposed a visionary approach to lasting peace in the Land of Israel, rooted in the Torah’s wisdom and a profound understanding of geopolitical realities.
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If you have not yet, purchase a few copies of this book and share with all your acquaintances!
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/bibi-repeats-shamirs-mistake/