Israel at Crossroads: Election to Decide National Survival
Translated & summarized from Makor Rishon by baba
With Israeli elections approaching, the nation faces a critical choice regarding its future, particularly concerning Gaza and the West Bank. The author outlines three paths: establishing a Palestinian state, continuing to "manage the conflict" which is blamed for the October 7th attack, or pursuing a third option of occupation and sovereignty. The article warns that "managing the conflict" could lead to a catastrophic disaster, and that only the third path offers a secure future for Israel.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israel's upcoming election is framed as a choice about national survival and the future of Gaza and the West Bank.
- One option is establishing a Palestinian state, seen as a division of land and a threat to Jewish statehood.
- The "managing the conflict" approach is criticized as an illusion that led to the October 7th massacre.
- A large, armed Palestinian force in the West Bank is a growing concern under the "managing the conflict" policy.
- The author advocates for a third path of occupation and sovereignty as the only alternative to disaster.
- The article warns that continuing to "manage the conflict" could lead to an existential threat to Israel.
With Israeli elections less than a week away, the nation stands at a critical juncture, facing a choice that the author argues is fundamentally about national survival and the future of Gaza and the West Bank. Three paths are presented: a leftward option of establishing a Palestinian state in the central West Bank, creating a narrow 15-kilometer strip of land between Israel and a hostile state. This option, though not explicitly named as a "Palestinian state," is seen as a division of the land, regardless of terminology like "disengagement" or "autonomy."
The second path is described as "managing the conflict," a strategy of avoiding major decisions and continuing with the status quo, a policy attributed to the center-right. This approach is characterized as an illusion, believing there is time to act and build defenses, a notion deemed untenable after the October 7th attacks. The article asserts that powerful forces are working to establish a hostile state within Israel's borders, working against the existence of the Jewish state.
The author contends that time is working against Israel, citing the growing number of countries recognizing a Palestinian state, sanctions on settlement activity like the E1 plan, and rising global antisemitism as dynamics leading to a "solution" of dividing the land. This approach, the article warns, could lead to the establishment of a Muslim enemy state above Israelis' heads while they believe they are merely "managing" the situation.
The "managing the conflict" approach is blamed for the October 7th massacre, with the author arguing that politically, Israel believed it could coexist with an armed enemy on its border. In Gaza, hundreds of trucks continue to supply Hamas daily, funding its military, while in the West Bank, under the same conflict management strategy, a significant Palestinian force of approximately 70,000 armed individuals has been established. The article expresses concern that this force, much larger than Hamas's October 7th contingent, could act, and that "managing the conflict" could lead to a disaster dwarfing that of October 7th, potentially threatening Israel's very existence.
The third path, presented as the only alternative, is that of "true right-wing" or ideological victory, characterized by occupation and sovereignty. This path acknowledges the dangers of both dividing the land and managing the conflict. While difficult after decades of the Oslo Accords, the author believes it is the only option for a promising future where Israelis are not killed or run over, and where young people are not repeatedly fighting over the same land. The article concludes by referencing an upcoming "People's Committee" inquiry, stating that Israel's future depends on its ability to learn from mistakes and correct them.
