One of Israelis’ defining qualities is straightforward bluntness, captured by the Hebrew slang dugri. To talk dugri is to tell it like it is, consequences or hurt feelings be damned. At the moment, however, it is one that is glaringly absent when it comes to the Israeli government. Netanyahu won’t admit that he has deprioritized the hostages, but also won’t accept the risk of alienating even one voter in his base by admitting that his total victory is an unobtainable mirage. He won’t say no to Smotrich, but also won’t acknowledge that he won’t say no to Smotrich.