The bottom of the pit. No one really knows how, when, and if at all, it will be possible to regain the legitimacy of the security forces, the start-up nation, investors, the American government, our international standing. In a flash, talk of leaving the country turned into messages from zealous patriots. So is the talk of the end.
The bitter talk that was called "Eshkol jokes" 57 years ago (about the stamp collector who said he would stay here until the end, because he had to wait for the last day of the state; about the sign posted at the airport instructing the last veteran to turn off the light; and about Israel Galili, who broke his hand in a failed attempt to lift the mood) were nothing compared to the feeling these days.
Protest convoy in Jerusalem // Archive photo: Yoni Rikner
But in difficult moments, positive and exciting phenomena are revealed. The protest against the anti-democratic revolution is certainly one of them, as is Israel's caring and willingness to fight the worst attack on Israeli democracy since its establishment. The fact that people strongly identified with the right did not hesitate to fight alongside clear leftists for freedom was also the kind of thing we can look at with pride when the nightmare we are going through is behind us.
Another phenomenon emerged here: the protest gave rise to new leadership. A different kind of leadership. of people in their 30s and 40s, very busy, who had not previously been involved in party politics, academics, research, high-tech and business, and professionals who suddenly found themselves, speaking before tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands, running around the television studios and expressing themselves with an eloquence that most Knesset members are entitled to envy.
Shikma Bressler. One of the leaders of the protest, photo: Coco
It would probably not be a mistake to assume that most of these people are like Cinsantos, the same farmer-general who was elected, several times, as leader of Rome, saved it from its enemies and after two or three weeks in office returned to work his land. But it is very possible that there will also be those who will be convinced that they can continue to contribute outside of times of crisis, so that the protest will be their ticket into the world of decision makers.
It is possible that among the protesters who will consider entering the political arena will also be the most prominent among them, Prof. Shikma Bressler, a 43-year-old physicist who manages, between protest events, to invest time in research and raise five children. Shikma is the Marianne of the protest, but the difference between her and the symbol of the French Revolution is that Marianne is an imaginary figure, and Shikma is a real woman, who may play an important role in the leadership of the democratic camp in Israel.
Meanwhile in Ramallah
The IDF's operation in Jenin is breathing life into Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Security cooperation, which was officially canceled, has returned to its former state to a considerable extent. The Palestinian security forces are notable for their presence in the city, after Abbas' rare visit there. As of now, Jenin is returning to the Palestinian Authority.The day after tomorrow, at the invitation of President el-Sisi, an unusual meeting will take place in Cairo between the heads of the Palestinian organizations.
The meeting between Mahmoud Abbas and Haniyeh, mediated by Erdogan, photo: AFP
It is unclear whether Abbas will also participate, but even if not, it will be an achievement for Fatah, which will receive recognition for its leading position. Once again, the option of establishing a national unity government with the participation of Fatah and Hamas is raised. Although it seems that the greater the split in the Palestinian camp, the better for us. Israel needs one Palestinian address, and this could also be the way to return Fatah elements to the Gaza Strip.
It is possible to claim that Abbas is a "terrorist," a hater of Israel, a Holocaust denier, and pour boiling rods on him, as right-wing elements do, for whom no partner is suitable. But anyone who understands that without a border between the Palestinians and us, we will not have a Jewish and democratic state must admit that by refusing to reach an agreement with him, we are missing an opportunity to guarantee ourselves a democratic state with a Jewish majority.
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