You will still be surprised by Ben Gvir, a dear friend told me yesterday, a person I greatly appreciate, "The guy is going to undergo a transformation. In three months he will be criticized from the right for leftism."
I told him he was wrong, but he insisted.
"They said the same thing about Bennett and the security portfolio."
I admit that the comparison surprised me.
In my eyes, it indicates the process of getting used to it that Ben Gvir went through in the Israeli public and media.
Bennett was indeed considered an extremist before entering the Ministry of Defense, but where is he and where is Ben Gvir.
Bennett was an officer in the army, a high-tech entrepreneur, a cabinet member and a minister (in several ministries) before he took over the responsibility for the Holy of Holies.
Itamar Ben Gabir, on the other hand, is a serial criminal convict, with a record of supporting the most extreme fringes - Migal Amir and Baruch Goldstein and even the sleepiest parts of the youth of the hills.
His conduct in the past year, since he was elected to the Knesset, does not indicate that he has changed or matured, but quite the opposite: wherever he needed to go with a water hose, he made sure to go with a can of oil.
I really hope Ben Gavir has calmed down.
the center
calm down
It will teach that he has acknowledged his mistakes and changed his ways.
Somehow, I suspect this is not the case.
that he understands that the way to gain the enormous popularity he now enjoys is by presenting a more pleasant face, less violence.
But whether the process is real or not, the burden of proof is on him - he is required to meet it before he accepts responsibility for the most sensitive living systems in the country.
The State of Israel is a miracle on a global level.
A country that arose, developed and prospered against all logic and despite all possible difficulties - security threats, political challenges, economic crises, and even difficult climate and soil conditions.
From this collection of lemons she produced a fine lemonade, which became a household name in the world.
She did this because she knew how to act wisely, with sophistication, with cunning when required;
Not brandishing a gun, but using it when necessary - but only when necessary.
This is how all Israeli governments behaved, regardless of their political identity.
Despite the calls of Gewald from the right and the left, they never pursued a fringe policy.
As a prime minister he acted sensibly, for the first time he will be forced to rely on an extreme party.
Netanyahu and Ben Gvir, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
For the first time, today, there is a possibility that this logic will be broken.
Not because of the possibility of a right-wing government headed by Benjamin Netanyahu - who has already been prime minister here and almost always behaved with political logic and security responsibility - but because it will be required for the first time to rely on a nationalist and extreme fringe party, parts of which seek to shatter broad fundamental conventions in Israeli society.
walk in the central lane
I am not one of those who believe that Israel will collapse if this happens.
I want to believe that the State of Israel is strong and democratic, and will remain so.
On the other hand, my colleagues in Turkey also thought the same when Erdogan came to power.
Some of them, by the way, were imprisoned (along with generals, judges and others who opposed the government) or fled the country - along with quite a few young people who were looking for a calmer and sane place to live.
Israel's strength has always been in its unity, in turning the various internal currents into one fist capable of any challenge.
This power has been cracked in recent years.
In order to preserve it, Israel must continue to follow the central path, and not be tempted by detours and shortcuts that could lead to a dangerous accident.
were we wrong
We will fix it!
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