Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long prided himself on being both “Mr. Security” and “Mr. Economy.” As Mr. Security, Netanyahu (and many, if not most, Israelis) believed he was the only one who would ensure that Israel remained militarily strong and could bring about a historic rapprochement with the Arab world; as Mr. Economy, Netanyahu was widely credited with presiding over a period of sustained economic growth and a blossoming high-tech industry.
No one doubts that Mr. Security was among the casualties of the Oct. 7 massacre carried out by Hamas, but so was Mr. Economy. And in both cases, the losses are unlikely to be limited exclusively to Netanyahu the man. The fallout will affect Israel as a country and a society, perhaps for years to come.
The confidence that Israel had in itself and its technological capabilities has been quickly recast in the public mind as hubris.
