This past year, 2023, will almost certainly be regarded in history as one of the most arduous and trying periods that Israel has ever experienced. It began with the launching of the “judicial overhaul,” which ignited widespread public protests, and intensified existing social and political divisions in Israel. The internal crisis grew more acute as months went by, threatening the readiness of the IDF, undermining the economy, and damaging Israel's standing in the world. As many warned at the time (including INSS, in two “Strategic Alerts”), Israel’s internal weakening did not go unnoticed by our enemies, heightening the security threats that we face and tempting the “axis of resistance,” led by Iran, to challenge our determination and deterrence.
Neither the heat of the summer nor the High Holidays brought relief. Although the mass protests succeeded in stopping significant parts of the “judicial reform,” the socio-political crisis reached a dead end, and the tensions only intensified. Against the backdrop of this grim reality, we were struck by the murderous attack of October 7, with its unimaginable cruelty and barbarism. That horrific day brought upon us not only the slaughter of 1,200 men, women, and children and the abduction of 250 hostages, but also the collapse of sanctified Israeli beliefs. Thus, as the day went by, the faith in the unmatched superiority of Israel‘s intelligence and in the omnipotence of the IDF was shattered, as were the reliance on deterrence and the belief in the impregnability of our borders.
Since then we have been waging an all-out war against Hamas, and have likewise been forced to engage in a violent confrontation with other Iranian proxies. This war has already broken dubious records in terms of length, number of reservists mobilized, range of war theaters, mounting economic costs, and even the stunning wave of antisemitism that it ignited around the world. And the end is not yet in sight: it is not at all clear how long the military campaign will last, what the ”day after” will look like, how security can be restored in the northern border, and what will happen in Israel’s highly unstable and contentious political sphere.
Indeed, what a terrible year 2023 has been! However, perhaps as in the biblical story of Balaam who was summoned to curse the Israelites, the ordeals of this past year will transmute into blessings in this coming year. Let us not forget: Israel did not collapse, Israeli society did not disintegrate, the IDF recovered quickly and has since demonstrated impressive capabilities, our soldiers display supreme bravery and commitment, and the good old Israeli spirit is once again animating the heart of the nation. Above all stands out the incredible dedication of Israel’s younger generation, and its willingness to take responsibility for Israel’s destiny in the defense of democracy, in the formidable mobilization for the war effort, and in the unprecedented wave of solidarity and voluntarism that has swept the country since then.
True, the future is still shrouded in thick fog, but the commitment, sacrifice, and resourcefulness of millions of Israelis over the past year leave no doubt: the blessings will gradually emerge, some of them perhaps already during this coming year. Not only shall we prevail over our enemies, but a unique opportunity might thus emerge to forge a better security and political reality in the region, hopefully also vis-à-vis the Palestinians. Internally, it is very likely that the political system will undergo a major shakeup during this coming year, allowing the solid centrist majority to reclaim the lead from polarizing forces. We have refrained for too long from confronting the fundamental problems that afflict Israel, both externally and internally. No more: scores of concerned Israelis are currently pushing forward a wide range of initiatives to “restart” our troubled and beloved Israel, to formulate a new vision, and to pursue its realization. We owe this much to the victims of October 7, to the soldiers who have fallen since then, to those evacuated from their homes, to the missing, and to the kidnapped. We owe this to our children and grandchildren, and to future generations.
Balaam was supposed to curse, but instead he blessed, “How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel!” Let us hope that so too this past year’s curses will be supplanted by blessings in the coming year.
This past year, 2023, will almost certainly be regarded in history as one of the most arduous and trying periods that Israel has ever experienced. It began with the launching of the “judicial overhaul,” which ignited widespread public protests, and intensified existing social and political divisions in Israel. The internal crisis grew more acute as months went by, threatening the readiness of the IDF, undermining the economy, and damaging Israel's standing in the world. As many warned at the time (including INSS, in two “Strategic Alerts”), Israel’s internal weakening did not go unnoticed by our enemies, heightening the security threats that we face and tempting the “axis of resistance,” led by Iran, to challenge our determination and deterrence.
Neither the heat of the summer nor the High Holidays brought relief. Although the mass protests succeeded in stopping significant parts of the “judicial reform,” the socio-political crisis reached a dead end, and the tensions only intensified. Against the backdrop of this grim reality, we were struck by the murderous attack of October 7, with its unimaginable cruelty and barbarism. That horrific day brought upon us not only the slaughter of 1,200 men, women, and children and the abduction of 250 hostages, but also the collapse of sanctified Israeli beliefs. Thus, as the day went by, the faith in the unmatched superiority of Israel‘s intelligence and in the omnipotence of the IDF was shattered, as were the reliance on deterrence and the belief in the impregnability of our borders.
Since then we have been waging an all-out war against Hamas, and have likewise been forced to engage in a violent confrontation with other Iranian proxies. This war has already broken dubious records in terms of length, number of reservists mobilized, range of war theaters, mounting economic costs, and even the stunning wave of antisemitism that it ignited around the world. And the end is not yet in sight: it is not at all clear how long the military campaign will last, what the ”day after” will look like, how security can be restored in the northern border, and what will happen in Israel’s highly unstable and contentious political sphere.
Indeed, what a terrible year 2023 has been! However, perhaps as in the biblical story of Balaam who was summoned to curse the Israelites, the ordeals of this past year will transmute into blessings in this coming year. Let us not forget: Israel did not collapse, Israeli society did not disintegrate, the IDF recovered quickly and has since demonstrated impressive capabilities, our soldiers display supreme bravery and commitment, and the good old Israeli spirit is once again animating the heart of the nation. Above all stands out the incredible dedication of Israel’s younger generation, and its willingness to take responsibility for Israel’s destiny in the defense of democracy, in the formidable mobilization for the war effort, and in the unprecedented wave of solidarity and voluntarism that has swept the country since then.
True, the future is still shrouded in thick fog, but the commitment, sacrifice, and resourcefulness of millions of Israelis over the past year leave no doubt: the blessings will gradually emerge, some of them perhaps already during this coming year. Not only shall we prevail over our enemies, but a unique opportunity might thus emerge to forge a better security and political reality in the region, hopefully also vis-à-vis the Palestinians. Internally, it is very likely that the political system will undergo a major shakeup during this coming year, allowing the solid centrist majority to reclaim the lead from polarizing forces. We have refrained for too long from confronting the fundamental problems that afflict Israel, both externally and internally. No more: scores of concerned Israelis are currently pushing forward a wide range of initiatives to “restart” our troubled and beloved Israel, to formulate a new vision, and to pursue its realization. We owe this much to the victims of October 7, to the soldiers who have fallen since then, to those evacuated from their homes, to the missing, and to the kidnapped. We owe this to our children and grandchildren, and to future generations.
Balaam was supposed to curse, but instead he blessed, “How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel!” Let us hope that so too this past year’s curses will be supplanted by blessings in the coming year.