“The sense of loss currently being experienced by the Israeli public is greater than the feeling that followed the Second Lebanon War in 2006.”
Yehoshua explained that in 2006, the frustration stemmed from disappointment with the performance of the Israeli military, which entered the war unprepared and concluded the campaign poorly. As a result, then-Chief of Staff Dan Halutz and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert paid a heavy political and public price.
“This time, however, the frustration runs much deeper. The Air Force, Military Intelligence (Aman), and the army’s forces delivered what can only be described as an exceptional and highly effective performance that cannot be dismissed or minimized. Yet despite these operational achievements, the final outcome in terms of ‘Israeli deterrence’ is considered far worse.”
According to Yehoshua, the paradox lies in the fact that strong military and intelligence performance has not translated into a corresponding strategic deterrence outcome, making the current sense of disappointment more profound than that experienced after the 2006 war.