Jewish Extremists, Not Iran or Hamas, Pose Israel's Greatest Threat
Translated & summarized from Zman Yisrael by baba
Jewish extremists, not Iran or Hamas, are the primary threat to Israel, according to the article. It criticizes past right-wing governments for security and diplomatic failures driven by extremist ideologies. The author argues that Benjamin Netanyahu's focus has shifted to accusing Arab citizens of undermining the state. A new government must offer a vision for including Arab citizens and resolving the Palestinian conflict to prevent societal collapse.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Jewish extremists, not Iran or Hamas, are identified as Israel's most severe threat.
- Past right-wing governments are blamed for security and diplomatic system collapses.
- Benjamin Netanyahu is accused of shifting focus from external enemies to Israel's Arab citizens.
- The article calls for a new government to include Arab citizens and resolve the Palestinian conflict.
- Extremist rhetoric is predicted to escalate, potentially leading to violence and societal destruction.
The article argues that Jewish extremists, rather than external enemies like Iran or Hamas, represent the most significant danger to Israel's existence and future. It criticizes the "full right-wing" government's four-year tenure, claiming it led to the collapse of security and diplomatic systems due to messianic delusions and a reliance on Hamas to prevent a Palestinian state. The author contends that this extremist ideology offers no solutions to the conflict, only exacerbation, while ignoring global realities and the need for international cooperation.
The piece further asserts that the current political climate, particularly following recent election results, obscures these issues. It highlights Benjamin Netanyahu's shift in focus from Iran and Hamas to accusing Israel's Arab citizens of seeking the state's destruction, a claim the author dismisses as a politically motivated falsehood. This rhetoric, the article suggests, influences even the "moderate right."
The author questions the long-term vision of moderate right-wing parties, including those led by Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid, and Avigdor Lieberman, regarding the occupation, the exclusion of Arab citizens, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It calls for a new government, potentially led by Gadi Eisenkot, to present a brave alternative, emphasizing the inclusion of Arab citizens in government and a clear political objective for the Palestinian conflict.
Ultimately, the article warns that the extremist right, encompassing parties like Otzma Yehudit, Religious Zionism, Likud, and Haredi factions, is driven by a lust for power rather than solutions. It predicts that their divisive rhetoric will escalate, potentially leading to acts of revenge and violence. The author urges for a strong response, a "iron wall" as advocated by Ze'ev Jabotinsky, to counter this threat and foster a vision for shared life with Arab citizens and a resolution to the Palestinian conflict, lest Israeli society face a "third destruction."