What happened
Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva, the top military intelligence officer in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), resigned Monday, becoming the first senior Israeli official to step down over the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.
Who said what
The intelligence directorate "under my command failed to warn of the terror attack," Haliva said. We "failed in our most important mission," and "I bear full responsibility for the failure." Haliva's resignation was "justified and honorable," Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said on X. "It would have been appropriate for Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu to do the same."
The commentary
Haliva's resignation "could help restore" some of the faith in Israel's revered military that was "shattered" by the Oct. 7 attack, The Associated Press said. The long-postponed "bitter reckoning" about the "October failure" may finally be "gathering momentum," The New York Times said, adding "pressure on other senior figures," notably Netanyahu, to step down or at least "take greater responsibility for their role in the catastrophe."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What next?
Haliva will stay in his position until a replacement is found, the IDF said.
-
Margaret Atwood’s memoir, intergenerational trauma and the fight to make spousal rape a crime: Welcome to November booksThe Week Recommends This month's new releases include ‘Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts’ by Margaret Atwood, ‘Cursed Daughters’ by Oyinkan Braithwaite and 'Without Consent' by Sarah Weinman
-
‘Tariffs are making daily life less affordable now’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Out of office: microretirement is trending in the workplaceThe explainer Long vacations are the new way to beat burnout
-
Trump ordered to fully fund SNAPSpeed Read The Justice Department is appealing the decision
-
Judge issues injunction on DHS use of forceSpeed Read Agents can only use force under the ‘immediate threat of physical harm’
-
France targets Shein over weapons, sex dollsSpeed Read Shein was given 48 hours to scrub the items from their website
-
Trump tariffs face stiff scrutiny at Supreme CourtSpeed Read Even some of the Court’s conservative justices appeared skeptical
-
FAA to cut air travel as record shutdown rolls onSpeed Read Up to 40 airports will be affected
-
Democrats sweep top races in off-year electionSpeed Read A trio of nationally watched races went to the party
-
Trump to partly fund SNAP as shutdown talks progressSpeed Read The administration has said it will cover about 50% of benefits
-
SNAP aid uncertain amid court rulings, politicsSpeed Read Funding for additional SNAP benefits ran out over the weekend
