Opinion: This member of the religious Zionist ‘settler’ camp believes that forming this coalition was a life-saving move for the country – for after four elections, violent clashes, blatant lies and outpouring of hatred, how much more can we take?
The monumental events of Wednesday night – the signing of the agreement to form a government and the pictures that accompanied it – stirred the souls of many members of Israeli society.
I, as someone who belongs to the right-wing, religious, Zionist and “settler” camp, believe it was a life-saving move – for it will save the life of Israeli society.
After two years that saw four election campaigns, crude and violent verbal confrontations, blatant incessant lies and an outpouring of hatred both on social media and in the streets, it is time to stop this destruction of the political system and restore governance and security to Israeli citizens.
If Benjamin Netanyahu – one of Israel’s greatest leaders – had vacated his position or at least kept the promises he made to Benny Gantz when he dramatically urged him at the start of the pandemic to come share the burden with him, we might have been in a different place.
But he did not. And now, the formation of this government-in-waiting is not only a vital existential step, but also a profound expression of what many on the right are unwilling to openly identify with but “secretly” support.
Many in the religious Zionism movement, on the right and across society in general understand that we now must step out of our “pure” ideological comfort zone (if such a thing exists) and give a functioning and stable government a chance.
This is a government that will have to set aside about 20% of the issues at the heart of the right-left rift, and manage – responsibly, professionally and with real cooperation – the 80% of the burning issues that remain.
In recent weeks we have experienced a chain of very trying events – from the disaster on Mount Meron through the war in the south to riots across the country.
One of the disturbing and frightening things that accompanied these events was the realization that there is no law and no justice on the social or civic level.
No one is taking responsibility for the tragedy at Meron and the police never arrived at the scene on time – not in Lod nor in Bat Yam.
We must put an end to this chaos.
I wholeheartedly support the current government, seeing a small light at the end of the tunnel with Israel’s Arab citizens joining the government.
There is no point in denying the emotional and practical complexity, especially in the context of the events of recent weeks, but there is also no point in ignoring the budding brotherhood, even if it is a brotherhood of interests.
Now all members of the new coalition are expected to act out of responsibility, being content with little when it comes to fulfilling their ideological dreams.
We could witness here a miracle of connection between people of different and even opposing views, who can discover what they have in common and work together for the strength and existence of Israeli society and the State of Israel.
Naftali Bennett, Ayelet Shaked and their friends on the right are not leftists (which is not a curse, by the way) and nor are they traitors or violators of Israel’s values.
They are leaders who are taking action in a difficult political situation and are trying to do what is best.
Like me and like many others, they are the flesh and blood of the national camp who care and fear for Israel and its Jewish identity.
The howls of rage and demonization of them in the religious Zionist camp are to me an expression of fear over losing power, which do not present an alternative.
Israel cannot go to a fifth election. What we need now is the restoration of government and governance in the country, to which each of us has a responsibility. The poisonous culture of government and politics of recent years has be removed.
We must prove that we can have a life of solidarity and responsibility and lead the country together.
Studies show that Israeli society has a high level of resilience. The trials it has passed throughout the years are different from those faced by any other democratic society in the world.
We can defeat this existential challenge too.
As reported by Ynetnews