David Sachs

Well, there's no question that the Mossad established or reestablished its reputation for extreme competence here. Being able to infiltrate Iran in order to assassinate the top political leader of Hamas while Haniyeh was a guest of Iran, I mean, that's deeply humiliating to Iran. I think he was there, Haniyeh was, for the swearing in of the new president. president of Iran.

So for them to be able to target him while he was there and set up the bomb months in advance, I mean, that shows extraordinary planning and intelligence and a huge failure on the part of Iran.

So for them to be able to target him while he was there and set up the bomb months in advance, I mean, that shows extraordinary planning and intelligence and a huge failure on the part of Iran.

I think in terms of the larger significance of this, you know, in the wake of October 7th on this pod, I said that I hope that Israel did not go off half-cocked responding the way that the United States did after 9-11. And when they started bombing Gaza, I said this is going to backfire. And, you know, boy, was that an understatement in terms of the reaction of world opinion.

I think in terms of the larger significance of this, you know, in the wake of October 7th on this pod, I said that I hope that Israel did not go off half-cocked responding the way that the United States did after 9-11. And when they started bombing Gaza, I said this is going to backfire. And, you know, boy, was that an understatement in terms of the reaction of world opinion.

I mean, Israel went into Gaza, basically leveled the place and has alienated practically the entire world. The only country that's solidly with Israel anymore is the United States. And even within the United States, roughly half the people are now against Israel.

I mean, Israel went into Gaza, basically leveled the place and has alienated practically the entire world. The only country that's solidly with Israel anymore is the United States. And even within the United States, roughly half the people are now against Israel.

And I think what I said at the time was that Israel could pursue or should pursue a more targeted strategy the way that it did after the Munich Olympics. This assassination within Iran shows that the Munich Olympic strategy, they've basically shown that it's successful. They've been able to do it.

And I think what I said at the time was that Israel could pursue or should pursue a more targeted strategy the way that it did after the Munich Olympics. This assassination within Iran shows that the Munich Olympic strategy, they've basically shown that it's successful. They've been able to do it.

I wish they had limited their response in this more targeted way because I think that the destruction of Gaza has created tremendous humanitarian suffering. And it's alienated just about the whole world. And what has it accomplished? I don't think they've gotten rid of Hamas.

I wish they had limited their response in this more targeted way because I think that the destruction of Gaza has created tremendous humanitarian suffering. And it's alienated just about the whole world. And what has it accomplished? I don't think they've gotten rid of Hamas.

They have not been able to kill the military leader of Hamas, which is Senwar, who was the actual military planner of the October 7th attack. And they have radicalized, you know, whatever part of the Palestinian population was not radicalized has been radicalized. And they've turned so much of the Middle East and the world against them in such a strong way.

They have not been able to kill the military leader of Hamas, which is Senwar, who was the actual military planner of the October 7th attack. And they have radicalized, you know, whatever part of the Palestinian population was not radicalized has been radicalized. And they've turned so much of the Middle East and the world against them in such a strong way.

Again, I wish that they had pursued the more measured strategy. It's still a tough strategy.

Again, I wish that they had pursued the more measured strategy. It's still a tough strategy.

Well, first of all, I'm not, obviously, sitting in that seat. I don't live in Israel, and I don't have skin in the game that way. So I think the first thing that they would say is, you know, you're not us. You're not sitting here dealing with all of our enemies in the region. And they would have a point.

Well, first of all, I'm not, obviously, sitting in that seat. I don't live in Israel, and I don't have skin in the game that way. So I think the first thing that they would say is, you know, you're not us. You're not sitting here dealing with all of our enemies in the region. And they would have a point.

But what I advocated, I think, months ago was to take a more targeted, measured strategy that I think the assassination of Haniyeh shows that they could have executed. And I understand why they went into Gaza and why they felt they needed to go into Gaza. But I just... This is not an anti-Israel statement. It's just a questioning of the strategy. I just don't see that as produced much good.

But what I advocated, I think, months ago was to take a more targeted, measured strategy that I think the assassination of Haniyeh shows that they could have executed. And I understand why they went into Gaza and why they felt they needed to go into Gaza. But I just... This is not an anti-Israel statement. It's just a questioning of the strategy. I just don't see that as produced much good.

I don't think they've solved their Hamas problem. They have not gotten Sanwar, and they've lost a meaningful amount of global support.