We live in an imperfect world and, therefore, although perfection must be attempted, we know in advance that it is an unattainable horizon. And that is civilization, the route that leads to unattainable perfectibility.
Every government limits freedom. Puts a brake on free will to choose in all areas, but something is received in return.
Taxes are a kind of “legal penalty” imposed by a government in exchange for personal security that offers freedom of travel without fear, enjoyment of services that require the cooperation of society: water, energy, internet, etc.
Living in a democracy requires the payment of freedom fees, and conflicts arise, on many occasions, when the delicate balance between government and personal freedom is affected.
After a prolonged period of tranquility, the questioning of this balance arises, and one of the parties chooses to cross borders and promotes a period of uncertainty that leads to confrontation.
Venezuela and other societies are examples of this. They fell into disarray and chaos for not ensuring that balance between government and society and ended a dictatorship whose components impede any future negotiation of change.
The Jew has a DNA that rejects conformity, forever questioning. To live in society, he must surrender some of his natural tendencies for rebellion and freedom. The Talmud is the best example of nonconformity because it questions everything, as a means to arrive at the correct path.
The four recent elections in Israel are a manifestation of this rebellion against the government, a rebellion that is suddenly affected by an external danger that will lead to the formation of a stable government.
These days, for various reasons, perhaps to show the Palestinian Authority that Hamas has its own real initiatives that respond to the most intimate wishes of the Palestinians: the elimination of Israel and who probably would have won the election that did not take place indeed because of that same fear. Or perhaps to challenge or test the extent of the new American government’s loyalty to Israel, Hamas considered it appropriate to launch an attack with thousands of rockets aimed at the entire geographical extent of the State of Israel. Showing this time, a war capacity not seen before.
It was a surprise and shocking action that manifested preparation and daring on the part of Hamas, but that thanks to the “Iron Dome” did not cause a major disaster in Israel, but at the same time, it showed that they possess greater bellicose skills.
What is the source of the funds to pay for these missiles? Obviously, the financial aid Gaza receives for social purposes is diverted to build tunnels to attack civilian targets in Israel, and to pay for rockets.
Where do these longer-range rockets come from? It is doubtful they are manufactured in Gaza.
They are probably supplied by Iran, and maybe Turkey.
If this is verified, the conflict may become larger.
The immediate question is: how will Israel respond? Will Israel abide by the sure-to-come immediate calls for a ceasefire? This is certainly being discussed at the highest spheres of the state because there is no doubt that Israel has the means to ensure any possibility that Gaza continues sending missiles, but the civilian costs would be enormous, more than Israel can morally contemplate.
What’s going to happen? An agreement will be reached that “prolongs the agony” for two or three more years when we will face the same thing, or worse.
Or maybe, this time Israel will try to destroy completely Gaza’s military structure, physically eliminate the criminal Hamas leadership that sends missiles to civilian targets all over Israel and hide in tunnels built under hospitals.
In the meantime, what are the consequences of what happened these days?
Netanyahu has been strengthened because at a dangerous time it is not advisable to change drivers or leaders.
Any Israeli government that includes a “Palestinian Knesset group” is discarded.
An additional nail has been hammered into the notion of 2 parallel states: one Jewish and one Arab.
The experiment with Gaza should have shown that, without the control of the Israeli army, that region could rule itself, with normality. That theory vanishes.
Any agreement between Israel and the Palestinians must go through stages in which Israel gradually withdraws from governing the Palestinians. Gaza is a demonstration that, for now, is not an advisable route.
The confrontation between Israeli Palestinians and Israeli Jews, a most disturbing development, reveals that despite the benefits and rights that Israeli Palestinians have within Israel, resentment and hatred are stronger than the possibility of developing a life of fulfillment (health, education, housing) that Israel offers, without distinction, to all its citizens.
The Israeli right is strengthened and the left that had lately lost ground will continue that path.
A step backward has been taken towards lasting peace with the Palestinians.
The “Abraham Accords” demonstrated that Israel can build a common agenda with the Arab people who want to insert themselves into modernity, and the latest events reinforce this path.
But change with the Palestinians is possible.
We must start with education. Palestinians must stop showing the Israeli as an enemy, perhaps to begin with, describe him as an adversary, and eventually as a neighbor who has his own, however different, cultural, and historical parameters. That’s the message that new generations must receive. Otherwise, we perpetuate confrontation, unnecessary bloodshed.
The term “martyr” must be erased from the Palestinian vocabulary and the world of terror must be ideologically and socially rejected.
Palestinians can and must use Israel’s progress for their individual and collective benefit and, thereby, create a better future for themselves and their descendants.
