Videos of reservists are running on the Internet, calling on elected officials: "If you don't have something good to say, shut up."
Everyone is tired of the tainted speech of some elected officials. We received a good example yesterday from Minister Dudi Amsalem of the Likud, who, after arriving at a cabinet meeting to which he was invited even though he is not a cabinet member, and attacked IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevy with harsh remarks, was interviewed by Israel Radio and addressed the issue in the following remarks: "The one who lashed out at us was Gantz, he almost turned the table and started screaming. All this to make a show and leak it later... Any legitimate question is lashing out? Why, the chief of staff, is this a little girl at age 3 with a pink dress?"
Not only reservists are fed up with the incessant lashing out at the military echelon, court decisions, and now also with the successful appointment of former Supreme Court President Prof. Aharon Barak as Israel's representative at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
Even the prime minister was fed up with this, and called on his ministers: "Consider statements and words. I say this in general, but especially ahead of the hearing at the International Criminal Court in The Hague."
Polls show that the coalition's conduct does not benefit it and its leader.
But it seems that the only and quick way to put an end to the hubris that accompanies this discourse is general elections for the Knesset. Opponents will say that while our soldiers sacrifice their lives, this is not the time for propaganda that is inherently polarizing. Those who say this must also ask themselves whether they are doing everything possible to prevent the division and polarization of the people again.
The elections now are also necessitated by the fact that the prime minister and his coalition of 64 are reluctant to discuss the "day after" doctrine, a critical and essential debate for our continued existence here and for deciding on the nature of the fighting. This is necessitated by the fact that the current government is responsible for the October debacle, for which it has not yet claimed responsibility. Only a new government, regaining the confidence of the people, in its current composition or in a new one, will be able to discuss the issue, while the failure of October 7 will not be an obstacle.
The municipal elections could serve as a successful pilot for general elections to the Knesset. Moreover, in any case, they will take place at least in at least three months, when the nature of the fighting will probably change, as is happening now in the northern Gaza Strip
There is no doubt that holding general elections while the army is fighting is a logistical challenge. But next month there will be elections for local authorities, whose role is no less important than that of heritage minister, for example. These elections will also be held in the shadow of the fighting.
The military said it was able to organize for anyone running for office in one of the municipalities to be released to go to elections, as well as to set up polling stations and vote in double envelopes. The procedure for double envelopes, by the way, has always been used in the army in all types of elections that take place. In other words, municipal elections could serve as a successful pilot for general elections to the Knesset. Moreover, these will take place in any case for at least another three months, at which time the nature of the fighting will probably change, as is happening now in the northern Gaza Strip. The soldiers who fight at the risk of their lives in the full sense of the word, even those who returned from captivity and those who are still there, deserve a different leadership that will win the trust of the people.
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