MUST WATCH: Israeli PM Netanyahu pushes back at CNN's Dana Bash asking him to take 'personal responsibility' for Hamas attack

On Sunday's episode of CNN's State of the Union, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to criticism that he should "take personal responsibility" for preventing the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack by comparing himself to George Bush after 9/11. 

During the interview, host Dana Bash pressed the prime minister as to why he won't take responsibility now. He responded, "I’ve already addressed that many times and I said this whole question will be addressed after the war." 

"Did people ask Franklin Roosevelt, after Pearl Harbor, that question?" he asked. "Did people ask George Bush after the surprise attack on September 11? 

Netanyahu said, "It's a question that needs to be asked, and these questions will be asked." He continued, "And I’ve said that the one thing that is important, and I’ve said we’re gonna answer all these questions, including me, I’m gonna be asked tough questions. Right now, I think what we have to do is unite the country for one purpose, one purpose alone, and that is to achieve victory."

"That’s what I did, we formed a unity government, the country’s united as never before, and that’s what we have to pursue," the Prime Minister added. "And what the people expect me to do right now is two things: one, achieve this victory and bring the hostages back, and second, be sure that Gaza never becomes [inaudable]" 

Bash interjected to ask what he would say to "Israelis who are disappointed that you still won’t take responsibility," to which he reiterated that it would be answered after the war. 

According to the Times of Israel, an opinion poll by the Maariv newspaper recently showed that 80 percent of Israelis believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu should take responsibility for the failures that led to Hamas being able to execute the Oct. 7 terror attack that left over 1,400 people dead. 

The same poll showed that only 28 percent of respondents believe that Netanyahu is better suited to be prime minister than National Unity party leader Benny Gantz, who received 49 percent. 

65 percent of respondents to the poll support Israel executing a ground offensive to destroy Hamas, in which Netanyahu told Bash "without it, none of us have a future. And it's not only our war, it's your war too. It's the battle of civilization against barbarism."