Despite the allegations of fraud and bribery swirling around
Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, as Israel heads, yet again, for
another election, Bibi, as he is affectionately known by the Israeli public,
still has his nose in front in the polls.
Why is it that, despite the Prime Minister facing charges of breach
of trust, the Israeli public’s trust in him has not yet been breached?
One can put it down to the principle of fairness and justice,
that a man is innocent until proven guilty. Bibi’s defensive drumbeat has been “there
is no there there,” or as he puts it, “there will be nothing because
there is nothing,” referring to his belief that the facts and evidence will
acquit him.
I believe the motive of the mass of Israelis to stick with Bibi
has a more basic instinct.
Simply put, staying alive.
Some anticipate watching the impending hearings and possible indictment
as spectators about to witness the biggest trial in Israeli history. But the
majority of Israelis feel personally invested in his fate, many fearing that
his replacement will not keep them as safe as he has done both internationally
and on the international stage.
In the terror years of 2000-2009, before Netanyahu was
elected to office, 1072 Israelis were killed by Palestinians. Since becoming
Prime Minister in 2009, and despite incessant Palestinian terrorism and rocket
attacks, only 196 Israelis have been killed.
Israelis heightened sense of security makes them sensitive to
the need to stick with a tried and tested leader with expertise on the
international stage, rather than gamble with alternative candidates that fail
the basic question “What would you do differently?”
Staying alive is what motivates Israelis to stick with the
leader they have rather than live with the consequences of an alternative, as of
now, unproven national and relatively unknown international leader at a time of
constant threats from enemies near and far.
Every Israeli citizen knows somebody who was killed during the
decades of Palestinian terror and rocket warfare.
Abroad, people read in the newspaper or see on their TV
screens events that happen in places they almost never visit. Israelis do not watch
the news as voyeurs staring at the tragic lives of others. They view the
tragedies of fellow Jews as if they are part of their own family, because often
they are.
Israelis, collectively, live in a world of constant conflict.
They feel they live on a diverse and democratic island surrounded by a sea of haters
who want to see them dead.
Israelis are constantly hectored by the international
community that they have to make peace with people who are committed not to accept
their existence, but also want to kill them.
From, “O Muslim, there’s a Jew behind me. Come out and
kill him” (Hamas), to “Jews filthy feet” and “We bless every drop
of blood that has been split for Jerusalem” (Mahmoud Abbas), Israelis
fully understand the anti-Semitic message of a Palestine “from the river to
the sea.” They have stopped believing in peace, especially the deceptive
two-state solution, which is nothing more than a dog whistle for the staged
destruction of Israel.
They are suspicious of any party whose platform advances this
roadmap to Israel’s eventual demise. The question they fire at opposition
leaders heading to the elections is “What would you do differently to Bibi?”
They are not getting any coherent alternative.
Every Israeli family is personally invested in Israel’s
defense and security. They see their sons become responsible men willing to
give their lives to protect them and their homeland.
Professor Asa Kasher of Tel Aviv University recently 11compared
Israeli students to American students. Life-changing experiences that the Israeli
students have by serving their country in the IDF matures them, makes them more
patriotic.
As he told the Jerusalem Report, “In the US when
you teach (American) undergrads, you call them kids. Their general
attitude toward the world is more similar to that of kid’s than to that of
Israeli ex-soldiers.”
“Think about young officers, very early in their military service,” Asher explained. “Some are
slightly older than 20, many are younger. They shoulder quite a heavy
responsibility. They have a responsibility to the defense of the state, and a responsibility
for the lives of their subordinates. It is,” he said, “a very heavy
responsibility that most American students don’t ever shoulder.”
He went on. “They know more, they have experience dealing
with responsibility and risk, and they have experience sometimes losing
comrades, so they’re more accomplished adults.”
The word “maturity” comes to mind.
We will see this development in my family, having just inducted
a grandson, son, brother, nephew, into an IDF fighting unit. It is clear to all
of us that he is likely to see action during his three-year service. It’s a worrying time, and “staying alive”
lies behind the blessing we gave him to come back in one piece.
Being realistic Israelis, we said “piece,” not “peace.”
It’s a sad reflection of the times we are living through.
So, we head to elections knowing that our close proximity
enemies, and those further afield, are still alive and killing.
That’s why staying alive will remain a motivating
factor as Israelis go to the polls next month.
Barry Shaw is the International Public Diplomacy Director at
the Israel Institute for Strategic Studies.
He is the author of ‘Fighting Hamas, BDS, and Anti-Semitism.’
No comments:
Post a Comment