The war exposed Israel’s broken politics, resilient society - opinion

The recent war has starkly illuminated the fractured nature of Israeli politics, revealing an institutional engine that struggled to manage the country while society itself demonstrated remarkable resilience and unity. This contrast is evident in the surge of civilian volunteer initiatives that emerged in response to the conflict, such as HaOgen (The Anchor), which mobilized 20,000 volunteers to support thousands of families, and Mashiv Ha’Ruach (Bringing Back the Spirit), offering retreats for frontline responders.

Despite this powerful public mobilization, the government's performance was widely criticized. The article points to politicians across the spectrum exploiting societal divisions for narrow political advantage, engaging in bickering and deploying reckless rhetoric. Actions by figures like Itamar Ben-Gvir, accused of sabotaging war aims, and Yair Golan, whose remarks about the army were deemed absurd, exemplify this political dysfunction. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of internal evacuees received insufficient attention and funding, with civil society stepping in to fill the void and effectively hold the country together.

This dynamic exposes a fundamental truth: Israel, a nation often defined by its vibrant and deeply connected civil society, appears to thrive in spite of, rather than because of, its government. The article suggests that this institutional rot is not unique to the current coalition, pointing to a broader pattern of political behavior. While Israel is undeniably a tribal society, the current level of political vitriol is described as a "toxic foreign import," contrasting with the country's inherent sense of brotherhood. Unlike Western political theory, which often links political decline to the erosion of civil society, Israel presents a paradox of a strong civil society coexisting with broken politics.