by Dr. Tzvi Moses, clinical psychologist, translated by Hillel Fendel.
Let Netanyahu work – and at the same time, let's tone down the internal dispute, rise up together, and let the special history of the Jewish Nation a chance to speak its part.
On the backdrop of Israel's renewed offensive in Gaza, the
questions have again arisen as to what Netanyahu's ultimate strategy really is.
The commentators offer up all sorts of ideas and scenarios, while his many
detractors always like to link anything he does or doesn't do to a need of his to
strengthen his coalition and survive politically as Prime Minister.
It could be, however, that this time, they are simply wrong.
Netanyahu is taking inspiration and strength from Donald Trump, and he is
actually very involved in what is best for the State of Israel. In fact, his
achievements thus far seemed just a year ago to be nothing more than
dream-like.
It is a given that with Trump in office, we stand before a seemingly
one-time historic opportunity to fortify the State of Israel as a country that
can stand alone on its own two feet in defending itself and its citizens.
Despite Israel's current strong dependency upon the United States, our goal is to accumulate sufficient strength so that we will be able to withstand a change of administrations in the U.S. and a new international balance of power among the superpowers.
Our recent hostage exchange deal with Hamas - in which we released
some 1,700 prisoners, including 620 bona-fide terrorists and murderers - has
left Israel in a very vulnerable position. The dangerous weakness that we have revealed
leaves us open to unacceptable and impossible Hamas demands in exchange for all
the remaining hostages, in a manner that endangers the existence of the State
of Israel. Hamas is basically demanding a total end to the war, with American
and United Nations guarantees that will stop Israel from completing the job of
liquidating Hamas.
This is the real meaning of the proclamations made by the
"Free the hostages at any price!" campaign and the protestors in Tel
Aviv. A surrender of this sort would form, almost immediately, a regional chain
reaction among all of our enemies. They would learn clearly that they no longer
need nuclear weapons to destroy us. All they have to do is assemble a bunch of kidnapping
cells in order to dismantle Israeli society from within and thus destroy our
country.
The populistic chants of "First the hostages, then smash
Hamas" have no validity or truth. If we try this approach, we will stand
weakened and helpless against our enemies. We are all well aware that the
plight of the hostages' families, and of course the hostages themselves, is
indescribably horrific, and it is incumbent upon us all to add prayers that the
relevant authorities break their heads to think out of the box and figure out
how to free them. But the deal currently on the table is a terrible one, and we
may not allow ourselves to agree to it as now formulated.
On the other hand, Israel is currently operating relatively
intensively against Hamas, and is practicing a much more active and aggressive
security policy in Lebanon, Syria, to be followed by the same against the Houthis
and Iran. Trump's backing in the meantime is amazing, surpassing anything our
great strategic commentators ever envisioned.
These anti-Netanyahu journalists are occasionally bewildered by
his success, though they steadfastly refuse to eat their hats and admit their
mistakes. They certainly would never actually praise him for what has been his
cautious and correct managing of everything that is going on. They rather keep
finding additional claims to file against Netanyahu and his nationalist
government. Yes, they do have one justified point, which is that while most of
those responsible for the colossal catastrophe of Oct. 7th have
either quit or been fired, only Netanyahu himself – where the buck of
responsibility is supposed to stop – remains deeply entrenched in his political
seat. But in the end – so what?
Though they and many others on the left claim
that justice is the epitome of what is fair and good, they refuse to
acknowledge that most of the charges against Netanyahu are fabricated for
political reasons. The trial against him will go down in infamy for the State
Prosecution and the left-wing camp. Apparently, for them, justice is relative.
In any event, Mr. Netanyahu is currently the Prime Minister, and he happens to
be running several particularly successful moves and processes. Israel's
political and military situation is in a very different place than it was, and
even our still-limping economy is showing positive signs of recovery.
At this point in time, Netanyahu is the most
suitable man in the country to lead us for at least the first two years of
Trump's term in office. After that there will be elections for the U.S.
Congress, and then here as well, and the voters will choose whom they wish.
The Trump spirit that has inspired and enveloped
Netanyahu has granted him a great measure of self-confidence – sometimes a bit
too much – in his drive to actualize the right-wing dream of cleaning out the
leftist stables. Not only in the U.S., but here in Israel too, over-leftistism
has taken up occupancy, sometimes openly and sometimes undercover, in all
areas: security, academia, and especially in the judiciary. To balance this out
is in no way a revolution or insurgency, as the protestors like to scream. It
is rather a necessary approach to balance out the leftism that has accompanied
the Jewish presence in the Land of Israel since even before the establishment
of the State.
In any event, what is required of both sides now is to enlist our strengths to tone down the internal dispute, rise above the situation together, and allow the special history of the Jewish Nation a chance to speak its part. Let us remind ourselves that the great Jewish spirit pulsates within Israel from Dan to Eilat.