How 9/11 helped Israel sell its war on Palestinians to America | Opinions | Al Jazeera aljazeera.com/opinions/2026/…
— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Oct 12, 2026
Day: October 12, 2026
Israel at the time of 9/11
At the time of the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001, Israel was governed by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and was deeply embroiled in the Second Intifada, a period of intense and violent conflict with Palestinians marked by frequent suicide bombings and military operations. [1, 2, 3]
Political Leadership and Domestic ContextThe Prime Minister: Ariel Sharon of the right-wing Likud party took office in March 2001, replacing Ehud Barak after the collapse of the 2000 Camp David peace summit. [1, 4, 5, 6]
The Second Intifada: By September 2001, the Palestinian uprising had been raging for a year. Israel was experiencing severe security challenges, with frequent attacks on civilians in cities like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. [2, 3]Immediate Reaction to 9/11
Official Solidarity: Prime Minister Sharon immediately condemned the attacks, declared a national day of mourning, and offered to send specialized Israeli search-and-rescue teams to New York City. [7]
Public Outpouring: On September 12, thousands of Israelis lined up to donate blood for American victims. Years later, Israel built the 9/11 Living Memorial Plaza in Jerusalem, which remains the only memorial outside the United States to list the names of all 2,977 victims. [3, 7]
Strategic Security Actions: Fearing a broader global conflict or coordinated attacks, Israel immediately increased military alerts, closed its land borders, and temporarily grounded civilian airspace. [8]Geopolitical Shifts and Diplomatic Tension
Framing Terrorism: Figures like Sharon and former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu argued that the attacks proved the U.S. and Israel shared a “bond of spilled blood” and faced a common extremist enemy. Over the long term, 9/11 shifted American foreign policy toward a global “War on Terror,” which ultimately aligned U.S. counterterrorism strategies closely with Israeli military tactics.
Early Diplomatic Friction: In the immediate weeks following 9/11, temporary friction arose between Washington and Jerusalem. President George W. Bush’s administration sought to build a broad international coalition against Al-Qaeda that included Arab nations like Saudi Arabia and Syria. Fearing that the U.S. might make diplomatic concessions to Arab states at Israel’s expense, Sharon publicly stated that Israel would not “pay the price” to stabilize the region for Washington’s coalition. [8, 9, 10, 11]Impact on the Palestinian Authority
PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat publicly deplored the 9/11 attacks and was filmed donating blood to American victims. However, scattered television broadcasts showing small groups of Palestinians celebrating the attacks in East Jerusalem and Nablus damaged global sympathy. Arafat quickly recognized that the Western perception of political violence had fundamentally changed, leading him to heavily suppress those celebrations and order armed groups to temporarily halt operations to avoid having the Palestinian movement branded as synonymous with Al-Qaeda. [2, 8][1] en.wikipedia.org
[2] npr.org
[3] facebook.com
[4] ebsco.com
[5] britannica.com
[6] gov.il
[7] en.wikipedia.org
[8] nytimes.com
[9] washingtoninstitute.org
[10] aljazeera.com
[11] theguardian.com
– Google Search google.com/search?q=Israel+a…— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Oct 12, 2026
Israel at the time of 9/11 – Google Search google.com/search?q=Israel+a…
— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Oct 12, 2026
RT @OlenaWave: #Kyiv suspects the #US planned to lift sanctions even before #Putin‘s birthday — Kyiv Independent.
During talks in Miami, U…
— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Oct 12, 2026
#Putin #Netanyahu #Intelligence
Putin and Netanyahu: brethren in the arts of the geopolitical crimes, also known as the Special Intelligence Operations –
Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu are frequently analyzed together by international relations experts, historians, and political scientists regarding their respective military and geopolitical strategies. Observers and critics often draw parallels between the Russian special military operation in Ukraine and Israel’s military operations in Gaza and the broader Middle East, particularly concerning international law, strategic goals, and political survival.
Major viewpoints and analyses from foreign policy analysts and human rights organizations highlight several key areas of comparison:
1. Justifications for Military ActionsState Security and Existential Threats: Kremlin leadership under Vladimir Putin has consistently framed its invasion of Ukraine as a necessary preemptive strike against NATO expansion and an existential threat to Russian sovereignty. Similarly, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli officials frame their intensive campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon as vital, existential defensive measures to eliminate Hamas and Hezbollah following the October 7 attacks.
Historical and Territorial Claims: Commentators note that both leaders frequently invoke historical rights and deep-seated cultural or religious narratives to justify their territorial and military objectives to their domestic populations.2. International Legal Scrutiny and “Geopolitical Crimes”
International Criminal Court (ICC) Actions: A significant point of comparison arose when the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin in 2023 over the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children. In 2024, the ICC Prosecutor also requested arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu (alongside Hamas leaders) for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Both Russia and Israel strongly reject the jurisdiction and findings of the ICC.
Allegations of Disproportionate Force: Human rights organizations (such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch) and various United Nations bodies have accused both administrations of violating international humanitarian law through the widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure, high civilian casualty rates, and siege tactics.3. Intelligence Operations and Hybrid Warfare
Asymmetric and Cyber Warfare: Analysts point out that both nations heavily rely on sophisticated intelligence networks. Russia is widely documented using cyber warfare, disinformation campaigns, and political interference globally. Israel’s intelligence agencies (like Mossad and Shin Bet) are renowned for high-tech kinetic operations, targeted assassinations, and cyber-surveillance tools like Pegasus.
Intelligence Failures: Ironically, both leaders faced historic intelligence and security failures right before major conflicts: Russia severely underestimated Ukrainian resistance and Western unity in 2022, while Israel suffered a catastrophic intelligence blindspot during the October 7, 2023, incursions.4. Domestic Political Survival
Consolidation of Power: Political analysts frequently argue that both leaders use ongoing state-of-war conditions to manage internal political vulnerabilities. For Putin, the war serves to suppress domestic political opposition and solidify state control. For Netanyahu, maintaining a strong wartime stance has been viewed by critics as a mechanism to preserve his governing coalition and navigate ongoing personal corruption trials.
Despite these structural and tactical comparisons, diplomatic historians emphasize that the two conflicts operate under entirely different historical, legal, and regional contexts—specifically noting Ukraine is a sovereign nation invaded by a global superpower, whereas Israel’s conflict involves non-state militant groups operating within territories whose legal status remains highly contested globally.
Would you like to explore a specific aspect of this comparison, such as how international law applies to these conflicts, the role of specific intelligence operations, or the diplomatic relations between Russia and Israel?Google Search google.com/search?q=Putin+an…
— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Oct 12, 2026
Putin and Netanyahu: brethren in the arts of the geopolitical crimes, also known as the Special Intelligence Operations – Google Search google.com/search?q=Putin+an…
— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Oct 12, 2026
Putin and Netanyahu: brethren in the arts of the geopolitical crimes, also known as the Special Intelligence Operations – Google Search google.com/search?q=Putin+an…
— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Oct 12, 2026
#CIA CIA #FBI FBI #Mossad Mossad
ADEQUATELY?
“The FBI and CIA had investigated potential leads connecting Saudi nationals and officials to some of the hijackers.”
Search: Were the “potential leads” of 9/11 to Russia, Germany, and Israel ADEQUATELY investigated?
Google AI: It remains a subject of historical debate …
My Opinion: The ADL frivolous accusations of antisemitism related to 9/11 Israel investigations are inappropriate.
“Mossad Role (False Claims): Claims that the Mossad or Israel orchestrated 9/11 are widely documented by organizations like the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) as antisemitic conspiracy theories and historical tropes lacking any factual or forensic backing.”
Search: “9/11 hijackers and Mossad”.
ADL is not the FBI to conduct the investigations.
Search: FBI and Anti-Defamation League (ADL)Official government reviews—primarily conducted by the 9/11 Commission and the FBI (under the PENTTBOM investigation)—concluded that all substantial foreign connections and intelligence leads were pursued, though they acknowledged significant pre-attack intelligence-sharing failures across international networks. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Whether these investigations were “adequate” remains a subject of historical debate, but the official records detail how leads relating to Germany, Russia, and Israel were handled:
1. Germany and the Hamburg Cell
Leads in Germany received the most exhaustive investigation because it served as the primary operational base for the key hijackers. [1]The Findings: The 9/11 Commission documented that three of the pilot hijackers—Mohamed Atta, Marwan al-Shehhi, and Ziad Jarrah—formed the core of an al-Qaeda cell in Hamburg, Germany. [1]
The Shortcomings: The investigation revealed that prior to 9/11, German intelligence (BKA) and the CIA had intercepted phone calls and monitored associates of the cell, such as Mohammed Haydar Zammar. However, both German and American authorities admitted post-9/11 that they failed to thoroughly connect these leads or discover the active hijacking plot before it occurred. [4]
Post-9/11 Action: Following the attacks, U.S. and German authorities cooperated extensively to dismantle the network, leading to high-profile prosecutions in German courts, such as the trial of cell associate Mounir el-Motassadeq.2. Russia and Intelligence Warnings
Leads regarding Russia primarily focused on pre-attack warnings and international financial tracking.The Warnings: The 9/11 Commission Report notes that Russia’s intelligence services were among multiple foreign governments that provided general, non-specific intelligence warnings to the U.S. during the spring and summer of 2001, stating that an al-Qaeda attack was imminent. [5]
Financial Investigations: Congressional and federal investigators tracked international shadow banking nodes to ensure terrorist funding channels were mapped. No evidence of state-sponsored Russian involvement in the execution or financing of the attacks was found. [2, 6, 7]3. Israel and Advance-Knowledge Claims
Leads involving Israel were evaluated regarding shared intelligence and subsequent counterterrorism investigations.The Warnings: Similar to Russia and Germany, Israeli intelligence services warned U.S. officials in 2001 that al-Qaeda was planning a large-scale assault inside the United States. [5]
The “Five Dancing Israelis” and Art Student Rumors: In the aftermath of 9/11, rumors circulated regarding a group of Israeli nationals detained in New Jersey on September 11 who were allegedly acting suspiciously, as well as separate reports of Israeli “art students” supposedly spying on federal facilities earlier that year.
The Outcome: The FBI thoroughly investigated these individuals. The intelligence community and the 9/11 Commission concluded that while some were working in the U.S. without proper visas or visas outside their stated intent, none had advance knowledge of or involvement in the 9/11 attacks. They were subsequently deported to Israel for immigration violations. Theories alleging Israeli government complicity have been uniformly rejected by mainstream intelligence and expert consensus. [7][1] fbi.gov
[2] britannica.com
[3] en.wikipedia.org
[4] en.wikipedia.org
[5] en.wikipedia.org
[6] congress.gov
[7] en.wikipedia.orgSearch:
The true, in depth 9/11 investigation was suppressed by the Bush Administration and Robert Mueller’s FBI – Google Search google.com/search?q=The+true…Pic.: facebook.com/SmithsonianChan…
— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Oct 12, 2026
#CIA CIA #FBI FBI #Mossad Mossad
ADEQUATELY?
“The FBI and CIA had investigated potential leads connecting Saudi nationals and officials to some of the hijackers.”
Search: Were the “potential leads” of 9/11 to Russia, Germany, and Israel ADEQUATELY investigated?
Google AI: It remains a subject of historical debate …Official government reviews—primarily conducted by the 9/11 Commission and the FBI (under the PENTTBOM investigation)—concluded that all substantial foreign connections and intelligence leads were pursued, though they acknowledged significant pre-attack intelligence-sharing failures across international networks. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Whether these investigations were “adequate” remains a subject of historical debate, but the official records detail how leads relating to Germany, Russia, and Israel were handled:
1. Germany and the Hamburg Cell
Leads in Germany received the most exhaustive investigation because it served as the primary operational base for the key hijackers. [1]The Findings: The 9/11 Commission documented that three of the pilot hijackers—Mohamed Atta, Marwan al-Shehhi, and Ziad Jarrah—formed the core of an al-Qaeda cell in Hamburg, Germany. [1]
The Shortcomings: The investigation revealed that prior to 9/11, German intelligence (BKA) and the CIA had intercepted phone calls and monitored associates of the cell, such as Mohammed Haydar Zammar. However, both German and American authorities admitted post-9/11 that they failed to thoroughly connect these leads or discover the active hijacking plot before it occurred. [4]
Post-9/11 Action: Following the attacks, U.S. and German authorities cooperated extensively to dismantle the network, leading to high-profile prosecutions in German courts, such as the trial of cell associate Mounir el-Motassadeq.2. Russia and Intelligence Warnings
Leads regarding Russia primarily focused on pre-attack warnings and international financial tracking.The Warnings: The 9/11 Commission Report notes that Russia’s intelligence services were among multiple foreign governments that provided general, non-specific intelligence warnings to the U.S. during the spring and summer of 2001, stating that an al-Qaeda attack was imminent. [5]
Financial Investigations: Congressional and federal investigators tracked international shadow banking nodes to ensure terrorist funding channels were mapped. No evidence of state-sponsored Russian involvement in the execution or financing of the attacks was found. [2, 6, 7]3. Israel and Advance-Knowledge Claims
Leads involving Israel were evaluated regarding shared intelligence and subsequent counterterrorism investigations.The Warnings: Similar to Russia and Germany, Israeli intelligence services warned U.S. officials in 2001 that al-Qaeda was planning a large-scale assault inside the United States. [5]
The “Five Dancing Israelis” and Art Student Rumors: In the aftermath of 9/11, rumors circulated regarding a group of Israeli nationals detained in New Jersey on September 11 who were allegedly acting suspiciously, as well as separate reports of Israeli “art students” supposedly spying on federal facilities earlier that year.
The Outcome: The FBI thoroughly investigated these individuals. The intelligence community and the 9/11 Commission concluded that while some were working in the U.S. without proper visas or visas outside their stated intent, none had advance knowledge of or involvement in the 9/11 attacks. They were subsequently deported to Israel for immigration violations. Theories alleging Israeli government complicity have been uniformly rejected by mainstream intelligence and expert consensus. [7][1] fbi.gov
[2] britannica.com
[3] en.wikipedia.org
[4] en.wikipedia.org
[5] en.wikipedia.org
[6] congress.gov
[7] en.wikipedia.orgSearch:
The true, in depth 9/11 investigation was suppressed by the Bush Administration and Robert Mueller’s FBI – Google Search google.com/search?q=The+true…— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Oct 12, 2026
The true, in depth 9/11 investigation was suppressed by the Bush Administration and Robert Mueller’s FBI – Google Search google.com/search?q=The+true…
— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Oct 12, 2026