Yuval Noah Harari: Netanyahu’s ’Deep State’ fears enabled Oct 7 attack | Ian Bremmer | GZERO World

Author and historian Yuval Noah Harari puts the blame for Hamas’ success in its Oct 7 attack squarely on the Netanyahu government and its attempts to undermine democratic institutions. He argues that it’s possible to support both Palestinian rights while defending Israel’s right to exist at the same time. Subscribe to GZERO on YouTube and turn on notifications (🔔): @GZEROMedia Sign up for GZERO Daily (free newsletter on global politics): Author and historian Yuval Noah Harari believes that the Israeli government’s policies under Prime Minister Netanyahu allowed for Hamas’ Oct 7 attack to be as deadly as it was. He points specifically to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s efforts to undermine the judiciary and other democratic institutions. “He was trying to systematically destroy the institutions of Israeli democracy,” Harari tells Ian Bremmer in a live interview at the 92nd Street Y in New York City. He links these domestic political maneuvers to the failure to heed warnings from military and intelligence services about external threats leading up to October 7, arguing that this negligence was influenced by conspiracy theories about a so-called “deep state.” The problem, Harari says, goes deeper than Netanyahu. He talks about the ideological infighting within the Israeli government as a battle for the country’s soul and for Judaism itself. He contrasts the principles of Zionism with those of a rising messianic movement that espouses Jewish supremacy, warning of the dire implications should this faction’s vision of a deeply stratified society. “This will change the very meaning of Judaism all over the world.” So what kind of outcome could both Israelis and Palestinians live with? Harari advocates for defending Israel’s right to exist while also ensuring Palestinian rights. He rejects the notion that these positions are mutually exclusive, arguing for a future where both Israelis and Palestinians can live dignified lives within their homelands. “Just because you are in favor of the rights of Palestinians doesn’t mean you have to be also in favor of destroying Israel completely.” Watch the full interview with Yuval Noah Harari on GZERO World with Ian Bremmer on US public television beginning this Friday, March 8. Check local listings. Catch GZERO World with Ian Bremmer every week on YouTube Also available at and on US public television. Want to know more about global news and why it matters? Follow us on: Instagram: Twitter: TikTok: @gzeromedia Facebook: LinkedIn: Threads: @gzeromedia Subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on notifications (🔔): @GZEROMedia Sign up for GZERO Daily (free newsletter on global politics): Subscribe to the GZERO podcast: GZERO Media is a multimedia publisher providing news, insights and commentary on the events shaping our world. Our properties include GZERO World with Ian Bremmer, our newsletter GZERO Daily, Puppet Regime, the GZERO World Podcast, In 60 Seconds and #GZEROWorld #IsraelHamasWar #Israel