Israeli politics is driving out its mensches, and the country will pay the price - comment

Israeli Minister of Aliyah and Integration Ofir Sofer announced he will not seek re-election to the Knesset, citing deep-seated disagreements within his Religious Zionist Party. Sofer, who has personally experienced the heavy toll of war with sons-in-law serving and a son wounded in Gaza, expressed that the current political discourse and party direction are untenable for him.

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every day is painful for him. His sons-in-law were rotating in and out of Gaza and Lebanon.His son, an officer in the Paratroopers, had been wounded in Gaza. And Sofer himself has carried Joseph’s Tomb since 1996, when he was severely wounded there, a trauma he barely mentioned in public for more than two decades.

Sofer's departure is reportedly linked to his opposition to the draft law for ultra-Orthodox men. He had previously declared himself the staunchest opponent of the bill in its current form, believing it lacked genuine intent to draft Haredim and that the responsibility for defending Israel should be shared more equitably. His decision to leave, despite the personal cost, underscores his commitment to these principles.

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No jab at a rival, no line engineered to trend. In today’s politics, that kind of self-restraint is a full-time job, and he was doing it while barely holding himself together.

In his statement, Sofer called for an "iron wall" built on spirit, values, and unity, emphasizing a discourse of solidarity and partnership. This plea for unity, repeated even as he quietly exits the political stage, suggests his profound concern for the nation's direction. His departure, alongside that of other figures like MK Moshe Arbel who also resigned citing a need for mutual respect, points to a significant internal struggle within Israeli society and its political leadership regarding national values and shared responsibility during wartime.

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Israel must build an iron wall, but one that rests on spirit, values, and unity.Citizens must demand a discourse of solidarity and true partnership.