Israel Is Less Fragile Than We Feared, More Fragile Than We Imagine

Key Findings:

This essay reflects on Israel's historical resilience in the face of existential threats and current challenges, particularly the issue of judicial reform. 

Israel has managed to survive and thrive in a turbulent region for 75 years (the author notes that Israel is actually, comparatively, one of the world's oldest countries). The country's early vulnerabilities were to do with its military, as seen in its slim chances of survival when it was attacked by the Arab world upon its declaration of independence in 1948. However, Israel not only survived in 1948, but significantly expanded its territory in the 1967 Six-Day War. In the economic arena, Israel also faced past scarcity and collapse. The combination of national resilience and assistance from abroad (including American Jewish support and German reparations) played crucial roles in stabilizing the country.

Whilst such external crises have fostered a sense of shared identity, internal divisions and unresolved societal fissures have lead to violence on multiple occasions. The ongoing judicial-reform crisis in Israel has intensified divisions along ideological, religious, and political lines. 

These reforms could potentially lead to significant changes in Israel's democratic system, and the nation stands at a crossroads, uncertain of its future. A major challenge in this arena is that various groups across the spectrum of both support and opposition declare their stances before fully understanding the actual content of the legislation. As evidenced by past political assassinations, the potential for violence is a concern. Real statesmanship (as seen from President Isaac Herzog) is needed to prevent the country from descending into chaos.

Israel's history of averting the worst has offered comfort to those who deeply care about Israel’s future, and understand that the future of the Jewish people is inextricably tied to the future of the Jewish state. However, civil discourse and political compromise have not been the country's strengths. The author concludes with uncertainty about the outcome of the current crisis and the belief that Israel's fate hangs in the balance, with both national greatness and irreparable disaster as potential outcomes.