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PMO Rebuts NYT Report: “Focus Was on Israel’s Future"

In response to claims published in The New York Times, the Prime Minister’s Office issued a sharp rebuttal on Friday, rejecting suggestions that political self-preservation guided key wartime decisions. “Contrary to what was reported,” the statement read, “the Prime Minister acted not to safeguard his political standing, but to ensure the survival and future of the State of Israel.” The PMO emphasized that disagreements with senior security officials stemmed from policy differences—not coalition considerations. It also dismissed any notion of a near-deal with Hamas in 2024, citing the group’s refusal to compromise, as confirmed by members of the previous U.S. administration. “If the Prime Minister had accepted the recommendation to capitulate to Hamas’ terms before entering Rafah,” the statement continued, “Israel would not have struck Hamas, Hezbollah, the Assad regime, or the existential nuclear and ballistic threat from Iran.” The PMO concluded by reaffirming the Prime Minister’s early war promise to “reshape the Middle East,” crediting the current trajectory to the “heroism of IDF soldiers, the resilience of the people, and the courageous decisions made by this government.”