Netanyahu, the Boxer Who Got Back on His Feet
Maariv, Israel, October 25
After October 7—the terrible catastrophe and all that led up to it—the prime minister, believe it or not, recovered. Like a veteran boxer, he made every mistake in the first round, took a brutal hit, and went down for what seemed like the final count. As he lay on the mat, battered and nearly spent, with the crowd jeering and declaring his defeat, he somehow found the strength to rise. Gasping for air, clawing his way back with bloodied hands, he bounced back on his feet—against all odds and all doubters. He had no breath left, but he had experience and, above all, an almost manic drive—the kind that moves mountains.
Slowly, the bruised fighter steadied himself, surveyed the chaos, and asked, “What the hell do we do now?” First, he regained his political footing, drew a breath, gathered what strength he could, and went back on the offensive—calculated, deliberate, relentless. He struck hard and where it hurt: in the ribs, the liver, and finally the head. Hamas was crushed—completely. The cost was immense, marred at times by confusion and disarray, but the job was done.
Hezbollah, too, was neutralized—an astonishing feat. That vile organization, which had haunted Israel for years, was dismantled in an operation that defies belief. Someday, when Hollywood’s disdain for Israel fades, it will make a blockbuster film. Some of Netanyahu’s critics argue that the “pager affair” had been simmering for years, that it was unrelated to him, and that it unfolded on his watch. I find that unfair. Just as the tragedy of October 7 is written on his name in history, so too is the eradication of the Hezbollah threat from the north. Give credit where it’s due. It’s a two-way street, and hypocrisy makes me sick.
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The strike on Iran came as the grand finale—an audacious culmination of Netanyahu’s long bet on President Donald Trump. After a bitter standoff with Joe Biden, he played the long game, calmly and shrewdly, until the decisive blow was delivered against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Yes, the nuclear escalation, the Hamas buildup, and the northern front all unfolded on his watch—but so did the balancing act that finally brought them to heel. Now the hostages are home. A crucial part of the promise has been kept, and there is joy—tempered but real.
Still, complexity remains. Life and history are nothing if not complex. The price has been devastating: fierce battles, unbearable grief, and hostages who might have been saved but were lost—a tragic failure. Yet others, long presumed gone forever, returned home—to their families, their parents, their children, to life itself. Every success and every failure belongs to Netanyahu. Despite efforts to manipulate public perception, to force unrelenting pessimism or blind optimism, the truth lies in the balance. Within this equation are horrors beyond comprehension—but also extraordinary, almost miraculous achievements. I have spent my life searching for truth, and this is it. To ignore one side is to lie. To report only the bad or only the good is to betray the essence of journalism; it is propaganda. That is why I must write this. The disaster of October 7 cannot be offset, but viewed on its own, Netanyahu recovered. The fighter beat his global opponents, dismantled Israel’s enemies, and proved that he still could. That was on the international stage.
Now, the challenge shifts to the home front. If Netanyahu truly wants to continue Israel’s rehabilitation, he must make brave choices: take real responsibility, initiate change, and establish a state commission of inquiry. He must silence the voices in his camp that thrive on hatred, remove the incompetent figures who undermine civic life, and focus on caring for the citizens—all of them, not just the few. The laws of the so-called legal reform must be scrapped, along with unilateral legislation and any measures that restrict freedom of expression. Reform is needed—those of us who live within the system of courts know this—but not the kind being forced through today. The government must respect the judiciary. Delusional coalition members and empty showmen who do nothing but flatter themselves must be reined in.
Against all odds, despite cynicism and opposition, the last war became a war of rebirth—the rebirth of October 7, a day that will forever bear Netanyahu’s name. We stood at the edge of the abyss. Truly. Now the prime minister must decide whether this revival will endure. The man who once led bold economic reform, who presided over Israel’s rise as a high-tech powerhouse, who pledged to fight the cost of living, must now take the ultimate step and ensure the rebirth of the state itself—otherwise, all of it will have been for nothing.
Haim Etgar (translated by Asaf Zilberfarb)
