Traitors from Within (October 7th)
Overview
The "Traitors from Within" theory alleges that the catastrophic security failure of October 7, 2023, was not a result of incompetence but of intentional sabotage by internal actors.1 Within the Pax Judaica framework, this theory represents:
- Officially: A grassroots attempt to explain a "statistically impossible" security breach.2
- Functionally: A shield for the political echelon that shifts the burden of failure entirely onto the military and intelligence brass.3
- Structurally: A justification for the purging of the security establishment in favor of loyalist appointees.4
- Eschatologically: A narrative of internal betrayal common in nationalist myth-making during existential crises.5
Origins and Key Figures
The Post-Attack Information Vacuum
The conspiracy did not emerge years later; it began on the very day of the massacre.6 Pro-government social media accounts immediately began questioning how the "smart fence" could have failed without internal help.7
Key figures:
- Nissim Vaturi (MK): A prominent Likud member who suggested that "traitors within" may have had prior knowledge.8
- Ronen Bar: The Shin Bet chief, who has become the primary target of these accusations.9
- Tali Gottlieb and Almog Cohen: Knesset members who have used their platforms to boost messages of institutional betrayal.10
Historical Development
The Immediate Aftermath (October 2023)
Within weeks of the attack, Netanyahu tweeted a direct blame-shift toward the heads of military intelligence (Aman) and the Shin Bet.11 Though the tweet was deleted within hours, it set the blueprint for the "Poison Machine" to normalize the narrative.12
The "Intentional Blindness" Claim (2024)
By mid-2024, the theory evolved to claim that intelligence services received a "red alert" but chose to ignore it to create a crisis that would force Netanyahu out of office.13 This version focused on the "conceptzia"—the flawed assumption that Hamas was deterred.14
The Video Campaign (March 2025)
In March 2025, Netanyahu released a video promising "dramatic exposure of facts."15 He suggested that investigations into his staff were actually designed to prevent the exposure of the Shin Bet's own "betrayal" on October 7th.16
Core Concepts and Frameworks
The "Stab in the Back" Myth
This theory is a modern Israeli Dolchstoßlegende.17 It posits that the army was not defeated in the field but was betrayed by internal enemies—specifically the "secular, liberal" elite who supposedly prioritize politics over national safety.18
Strategic Deflection
Functionally, these theories serve to maintain the Prime Minister's "Mr. Security" persona.19 If the failure was a secret betrayal, then Netanyahu’s policies (such as allowing Qatari cash into Gaza) were not the cause; instead, the failure lies with the "saboteurs."20
Contemporary Manifestations
Normalization of Incitement
Netanyahu has been accused of using a "test the waters" approach.25 He or his surrogates tweet toxic messages, delete them, and then allow the "Poison Machine" to normalize them in public discourse until they reach mainstream acceptance.26
Investigation Sabotage
As state commissions of inquiry began their work, the narrative shifted.27 Proponents now claim that the investigations themselves are a "conspiracy of silence" designed to protect the "real" traitors while scapegoating the Prime Minister.28
Discussion Questions
Further Reading
This article examines the "Traitors from Within" narrative within the Pax Judaica framework. The framework recognizes the narrative's role in preserving political power by sacrificing institutional trust and framing military failure as a cosmic betrayal.
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