After Oct. 7, Israel's future depends on choosing unity over political warfare - opinion

The events of October 7, 2023, exposed not only external threats but also a deep internal fracture within Israel, according to an opinion piece in The Jerusalem Post. The author contends that before Hamas crossed the border, Israel was already tearing itself apart due to internal hatred, political arrogance, and tribal warfare. This internal weakening, the piece argues, was a more significant factor than external enemies.

The period leading up to October 7 was consumed by the judicial reform crisis, which polarized Israelis. Protesters and coalition supporters viewed each other as existential enemies, transforming public discourse into arenas of humiliation and outrage. Social media amplified this division, with politicians on both sides exacerbating the conflict. The article suggests that this internal strife made Israel appear vulnerable to its adversaries, who observed a society losing its ability to speak with one voice.

The author labels the greatest intelligence failure as both military and moral, stemming from Israel's inability to maintain national unity. Many Israelis, the piece states, still struggle to accept that the October 7 massacre cannot be blamed on a single person or political faction. Blame is often cast by the Left on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition, while the Right points to the protest movement, the judiciary, and media elites. However, the article asserts that history will judge all political camps collectively for failing to protect the nation's unity.

While acknowledging Netanyahu's responsibility as leader during the massacre, the opinion piece argues against reducing Israel's crisis to one individual. It states that Netanyahu did not create tribal politics, ideological hatred, or institutional mistrust. The article also credits Netanyahu with significant achievements, such as the Abraham Accords and economic expansion. Nevertheless, it concludes that leadership also requires recognizing when an era must end, implying a need for renewal in Israel after the failures surrounding October 7.