This is Israel’s current reality. Its main security challenge on all fronts is to destroy its enemies’ ability to match their genocidal anti-Semitism with the means to kill Israelis. And the carrying out of this task can only be accomplished by a leadership that truly understands that Israelis are not to blame for their enemies’ hatred and that Israelis can do nothing to mitigate it.
The fact that Arab and Islamic anti-Semitism is met by and large by indifference from the West, which itself is suffering from a milder yet increasingly widespread form of Jew hatred, makes clear the third challenge facing Israel today: ensuring our economic independence.
In the history of nations there has scarcely been a case where the side with the weaker economy prevailed over its enemy in a war of attrition. Israel must ensure its economic vitality and independence in order to guarantee that its defense industries can continue to operate and that its military forces are properly equipped and trained. As well, in light of the rampant anti-Semitism in Western Europe, Israel must be capable of absorbing waves of Jewish immigration from Europe.
Today Israel is in the midst of a painful but successful process of economic liberalization and growth. The political instability that Sharon’s departure has induced can threaten this process which is so vital to the future of the country.
In light of the critical challenges that Israel faces today, its current political instability places it in a difficult position. The fact of the matter is that Sharon’s Kadima party without Sharon is nothing more than a patchwork of politicians who diverge on so many issues it is impossible to see it fashioning coherent policies. This is a cause for alarm. As well, the fractiousness of the nationalist camp – manifested by the Likud ministers’ unjustifiable opposition to Benjamin Netanyahu’s party leadership – is an additional cause for Israeli weakness at this critical juncture.
One of Sharon’s greatest strengths was his ability to form coalitions of people from disparate backgrounds and political camps and move them forward to achieve goals that appeared impossible to attain. Now, with Sharon no longer leading the country, Israel’s political leaders must find a way to act in a similar manner. The future of the state depends on their success.