Arik Carmon
Time to come to our senses
Instead of remedying yesterdays' shortcomings let's look to the future
On July 12th, a six-week-old government decided to embark on a military campaign in response to the violation of Israel's sovereignty after Hizbullah carried out a cross-border abduction of two Israeli soldiers and killed eight others.
After 33 days, Israel had ended a war against Iran's front division, in what was pronounced as "the first campaign in a war of existence."
The gap between a military campaign and an existential war is similar to the gap between knowing and awareness: We know, but are still not aware of the reality that unfolded before us over the years. This gap creates fear and uncertainty. Not assimilating this knowledge into our collective awareness has led to the "letting off of steam" since the ceasefire came into effect.
Letting off steam is natural and even understandable, but has exacerbated "within the box" modes of behavior such as the harsh and unrestrained blows at the government, which began its term in office less than six months ago; a heated, somewhat hysterical public debate in the headlines created by the media and headlines that drive the conduct of state leaders and private organizations.
It has also led to frightening calls to turn the regime upside down by applying magical solutions such as presidential rule, and by so doing endangering the very foundations of democracy.
And what is happening beyond the billows of steam? What does reality look like "outside of the box?"
On the outside: For the first time since the 1930's a threat pertaining to the existence of the Jewish State has been made by a Holocaust denier. Israel's diplomatic attempts to enlist the world's help against this very real threat are meeting an all too familiar European response, exposed in the past in front of Hitlerism
On the inside: A shaky and fragile coalition is trying to carry out its weary daily routine while fighting the public's growing lack of faith, whose roots are much deeper than revealed in the last six months and reflects the election results on March 28th, when half of the electorate didn't fulfill its civic duty.
On viewing these two aspects, replete with existential threats from inside and out, there becomes an urgent need to scream – "come to your senses." With all the empathy to the steam that is still being spurted out and understanding of its motives, this is the time to make a plea to all to "come to our senses."
We have to start the long drawn out process of making good out of the bad.
Historic opportunity
The recent war revealed many shortcomings both in preparing for the war and in the decision making process. The majority of these shortcomings cannot be attributed to the current leaders.
However, when amassed, these shortcomings present a historic opportunity to take action: To drive a process that will bring about a change in structures, norms and in the habits and patterns of the public debate.
New foundations
This is precisely the time not to free our leaders of their responsibility, but to call upon them to redefine our agendas ahead of a highly challenging future. We should appeal to them to free themselves from tomorrow's "political spins".
And further to routine handling of problematic social, economic and defense and foreign affairs issues, foundations should be laid for protecting us from within.
Namely, completing the drafting of an agreed constitution by introducing significant improvements in our parliamentarian rule; substantially investing in educating the next generation and taking responsibility for a vibrant, stable and democratic society.
The call to dwell on yesterday's misgivings (the writer of his article opposes a state commission of inquiry), is likely at best to make us remedy yesterdays' mistakes, whereas looking to the future calls upon us to abandon the patching up process and begin investing in new foundations that have been neglected for more than 50 years.
