Identity Politics Blinds Israelis to Achievements, Author Argues

Author Rachel Silbatzky argues that identity politics, both in the West and in Israel, prevents people from being judged on their actions and merits. She contends that Israelis, like American Jews who faced a resurgence of antisemitism disguised as progressive identity politics, are prone to categorizing individuals by their group affiliation rather than their accomplishments. Silbatzky uses the example of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, suggesting that voters should evaluate his performance based on his economic stewardship, particularly his success in maintaining growth during the recent war, rather than his religious attire or settlement status.

Silbatzky draws a parallel to her father's experience immigrating to America, where he initially found a welcoming society that valued individual opportunity, only to witness a shift towards group-based animosity. She observes a similar fragmentation within Israeli society, where citizens are divided by military service, religious observance, ethnicity, geography, and political leanings. This, she posits, makes it difficult for Israelis to see past these labels, even when evaluating politicians like Smotrich, who she believes has been one of Israel's most effective finance ministers.

The author criticizes internal divisions within the Religious Zionist movement itself, where some advocate for narrow identity politics, creating rifts between different factions. She references journalists Jason Willick and Ariel Shenhav, who have written about the dangers of identity politics forcing group identities onto individuals and blinding objective assessment. Silbatzky questions whether segments of the Religious Zionist party are becoming so fragmented that they require parties that perfectly mirror their sub-group, potentially leading to political suicide by failing to pass the electoral threshold.

Silbatzky highlights past achievements of the Religious Zionist party, such as the separation of civil and security authorities in Judea and Samaria, which facilitated settlement development and agricultural initiatives. She also mentions their role in securing funding for religious educational institutions and their stance against Hamas dictates during the war, including pushing for a Rafah operation and upholding war aims. She acknowledges the frustration regarding the Haredi draft issue but believes that collapsing the government during wartime would have been a greater disaster.

Finally, Silbatzky emphasizes that political success requires not only ideology but also practical skill and political acumen, citing Avi Maoz's limited impact as a single Knesset member. She contrasts this with the perceived inaction of former Brigadier General (res.) Ofer Winter, who allegedly refused practical policy roles. Silbatzky praises Smotrich, Orit Struk, and other Religious Zionist party members for their early warnings against the prevailing security "conception" before October 7th and for their firm stance during the war, arguing they should be judged on these merits rather than collective blame for past failures.