French Revolution Ideals Offer Path to Israeli Unity
Translated & summarized from Zman Yisrael by baba
The principles of Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité are proposed as a guide for Israel's deeply divided society, emphasizing equality as the key to national unity and democracy. The article identifies three main social divisions: Haredi, Arab, and ethnic, each experiencing systemic inequality that threatens national security. The next government is urged to address these disparities by promoting Haredi integration into the workforce and military, combating violence and expanding opportunities for the Arab sector, and developing the periphery through improved education and infrastructure.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- French Revolution ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity are proposed as a path to Israeli unity.
- Israel is described as deeply divided into Haredi, Arab, and ethnic social spheres experiencing systemic inequality.
- This inequality threatens Israel's national security by eroding its qualitative advantages.
- The next government must reduce disparities by integrating the Haredi sector and improving opportunities for the Arab sector and periphery.
- Equality is presented as the foundation for liberty and fraternity in Israeli society.
The principles of Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité, originating from the French Revolution, are presented as a potential compass for a divided Israeli society seeking to maintain democracy and cohesion. The article argues that equality is the foundational principle from which liberty and fraternity can grow, and it should be central to the agenda of the next Israeli government, ideally one focused on change and repair.
Israel is described as a deeply fractured society, not just by familiar economic, geographic, and cultural divides, but by three distinct social spheres: Haredi (ultra-Orthodox), Arab, and ethnic. These groups, while within the state, often exist alongside it with different relationships to its institutions, varying obligations, and a sense of partial or wounded belonging. This is characterized as a chronic, deep, and dangerous systemic inequality that threatens Israel's existence as a shared society.
The Haredi separation is seen as a voluntary choice to maintain a separate normative world, yet they benefit from the state without fully contributing to its obligations, such as military service or integrating into the workforce. The Arab separation is one of contested belonging, with formal citizenship often undermined by suspicion and a state approach that oscillates between partial inclusion and alienation, particularly evident in political discourse that questions their loyalty.
The ethnic separation is particularly dangerous as it transforms historical grievances into a political mechanism for cohesion and power, fueling populism based on resentment rather than genuine grievance redress. This dynamic, where government is built on insult and revenge, threatens democracy itself. The article warns that this persistent inequality among the three "tribes" is not merely a social flaw but a direct threat to national security, eroding Israel's qualitative advantage in education, science, technology, and economy, which is crucial for its survival.
Therefore, the next government must prioritize reducing these disparities. For the Haredi sector, this means encouraging military enlistment, integrating core curriculum studies, and promoting workforce participation. For the Arab sector, it involves combating violence, expanding national service, and creating educational and employment opportunities. For the periphery, it requires improving education, infrastructure, healthcare, housing, and transportation, while making excellence programs accessible. The goal is to transform these sectors from a burden into national assets, ensuring that high standards are equally accessible to all and fostering diverse contributions to society.