Author Calls for Broad Unity Government to Bridge Israeli Divides
Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba
Author Moti Shklar, writing in Yediot Ahronot, is calling for a broad unity government in Israel to bridge political and societal divides. He argues that fear of compromise and tribalism prevent the public's desire for unity from translating into political action. Shklar warns that narrow governments deepen societal rifts and urges courageous leadership to break political conventions. He believes compromise is crucial for a government to address Israel's challenges effectively.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Moti Shklar urges a broad unity government to overcome Israel's political polarization.
- He warns that narrow governments deepen societal rifts and that compromise is essential.
- Shklar attributes the lack of unity to tribalism and fear of identity loss on both sides.
- He calls for courageous leadership willing to break political conventions and foster compromise.
- The author believes unity is necessary to address Israel's security and social challenges.
In an opinion piece published in Yediot Ahronot, Moti Shklar advocates for the formation of a broad unity government to overcome the current political polarization in Israel. He argues that while the Israeli public desires unity, fear of compromise perpetuates division, warning that a narrow government, whether from the right or left, could deepen societal rifts. Shklar contends that the political system struggles to break free from the two-bloc division, despite a public yearning for unity, particularly evident among reservists and bereaved families.
He observes a disconnect between the public's aspiration for cooperation and the political reality, noting the weakening of parties that prioritized unity. Shklar suggests that this dissonance stems from Israeli society's tribalism and each camp's fear of losing its identity. One side fears a more religious state and the erosion of democracy, while the other worries about the country's Jewish identity, potential evacuations of settlements in Judea and Samaria, and the judiciary's growing power over the Knesset.
These fears, Shklar posits, hinder compromise, even when there's broad agreement on the need for unity. He draws a parallel to pre-October 7 warnings about the security implications of internal division, asserting that continued bloc conflict risks perpetuating this fragmentation. Shklar calls for courageous leadership willing to change the political game, likening it to Abraham smashing idols, meaning a leader who can break existing conventions and templates.
A unity government, he stresses, must be built on broad value consensus including public integrity, respectful discourse, universal military service, and preserving the nation's Jewish and democratic character, not just on dividing portfolios. He emphasizes that achieving unity requires more than acknowledging the legitimacy of differing views; it necessitates embracing aspects of the opposing camp's positions. Shklar concludes that compromise is essential for a broad government to tackle Israel's security and social challenges, stating that victory achieved by alienating a significant part of the nation would be a Pyrrhic one.
