Netanyahu’s ‘Forever War’: New Documentary Blames Corruption

Gillian Mosely’s new documentary, “Planet Israel,” argues that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is prolonging war to avoid corruption investigations. The film, a follow-up to her earlier work “The Tinderbox,” explores how Mosely, a Jewish filmmaker, came to sympathize with Palestinians. The documentary states that since the 7 October attack, Netanyahu has normalized a cruel political culture. It claims he needs far-right allies to stay in power and indefinitely delay legal scrutiny of his alleged corruption. The film calls civilian deaths in Gaza an international scandal. Mosely further argues that all Israeli citizens, both hawks and doves, are pressured to accept an endless war as proof of patriotic loyalty. The film acknowledges that Israel faces unique threats, such as neighbors denying its right to exist—unlike challenges faced by leaders like Putin or Trump. However, the documentary weakens its case, in one critic’s view, by stating that war “fuels antisemitism.” This statement, the critic says, implies Jews may be responsible for anti-Jewish hatred. Still, the film offers relevant insights into a situation that Netanyahu’s ban on foreign journalists in Gaza is designed to hide.