Israel…and internal divisions

The Israeli media works to confirm, based on the repeated opinion polls it conducts – and does not adhere to the generally accepted professional rules for conducting surveys – that Israeli society is actually divided in the face of the events taking place related to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, and the call for the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the release of prisoners. Israeli detainees, an indication that the current government is still facing real difficult choices, and that new parliamentary elections must be held to confront the current state of real division and resolve the matter.

In fact, the families of the detainees succeeded skillfully in managing the scene and escalating it, medially and politically, inside Israel, and even in the United States, and by managing an intense media campaign working in several directions whose goal is not to release the detainees, but also to change the entire government in reference to the state of the major demonstrations. Which Israel witnesses weekly.

The truth is that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is now facing a dilemma, regardless of the developments that affect the stability of the entire country in light of the ongoing war, and what it will result in, and awaiting the next step, which will actually focus on the priorities of arranging the atmosphere in the current government, whether by re-dissolving and reassembling its coalition or Going to a national government that includes all opposites again, within the framework of gathering Israeli society under the umbrella of the homeland, which is what President Chaim Herzog tried to work on throughout the last period by calling for a national dialogue, between supporters and opponents, and he failed, and this is what will be repeated in the period. Coming. Israeli society will not tolerate the continuation of this situation in light of the threats of societal segments, unions, large companies, and members of civil society to impose a state of national paralysis, which may lead to negative consequences for the unity and cohesion of society, and may lead to further division.

The stability of the Israeli interior requires real controls and steps, and it is not just a change of government that will bring the right back again, which confirms that there is no expected change in terms of public policies, internally or externally, but it will also affect the developments taking place internally that require real reviews and evaluations to get out of the way. The current situation, which will continue for some time, especially since the state and society together need structural change, whether in rearranging priorities, deciding on options, and rebuilding the shattered interior, and in light of a new and different political and strategic reality, which requires real policies, and not just positions or Trends of any kind or orientation, and with difficult choices facing the entire Israeli society.

Betting on the continuation of this situation – as the Israeli Prime Minister imagines – will not happen, but may increase, which may lead to a state of repeated failures, which may take stability in Israel to zero-sum scenarios, which confirms the need for a new social and political contract, as well as the need to build immunity. True patriotism to restore the cohesion of society in the face of new challenges and risks, which will go beyond what happened with the Hamas movement to other risks, which will impose themselves in the long term, and will affect the survival of the state in its regional environment as a strong state that can survive for another 100 years, as senior academics in the world fear. Expert houses and Israeli research centers believe that Israel is not only in need of internal restoration, but rather in need of rebuilding its regional and Arab relations, after the Gaza war has already touched the essence of these relations, and requires new reviews that must be worked on within the framework of correcting the state’s path. Regardless of pursuing security and strategic options at home, and towards the northern and southern fronts, which is a natural thing that will happen in the context of urgent developments, which confirm that Israel is a state that exists to remain in a hostile environment regardless of the agreements that have taken place, or engagement in peace treaties or settlement.

The current confrontations in the Gaza Strip have revealed the need to reconsider the regional peace project, strategic cooperation with partners, and the large Israeli presence in the region by regaining its status and capabilities as a superpower that occupies an important place in international strategic reports, which must continue, and Israel is working to preserve it. And not just creating some kind of stability in the government and segments of society. Political and social mobility is natural and existed in Israel before the war in Gaza, which requires realigning Israeli calculations, and focusing on developing internal capabilities as a priority that takes precedence over any other good, while working to re-melt Israeli society into one crucible, which is something that will require political elites. New military and political levels with the rebuilding of partnerships with abroad, especially with the American ally and the European Union countries, as well as the need for gradual steps and innovative, iterative solutions, which puts Israeli society before a new reality, and building the state socially on a consensual basis so that Israel is not a state and two peoples, this It is what is being proposed in the invisible decision-making circles, which actually represent the power centers in Israeli society, and which are planning to restore the state to its strategic and political position in the region.

*An academic specializing in strategic affairs.