Haaretz: Is Israel prolonging the war to avoid a possible civil war?

The Israeli Haaretz newspaper published an article by Israeli journalist, Rogel Alpher, who discussed that the attacks of October 7, 2023, strengthened the political position of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, rather than weakening it, which is completely contrary to any democratic intuition.

Alpher explains in his article, that in the event of a historic disaster occurring in a democratic system, most of the public expects that the elected prime minister will be seen as responsible for that disaster, and that he will be held responsible and will be removed or resigned.

Alpher attributes this to the fact that Israeli democracy was weak before the attack, as Netanyahu refused to resign despite being indicted on corruption charges, which led to the erosion of democratic standards in Israel.

In a conclusion Alpher wrote, “Yahya Sinwar didn’t expect that the weakness that has become a major factor in Israeli society is the same one that contributed to the society overcoming its aversion to losses and adopting eternal war as a tactic to delay the outbreak of a civil war”.

What does Israel ultimately expect after the eternal war? Harmonious prosperity and prosperity?

No… What awaits it the day after is civil war.

The eternal war postpones the civil war.

Therefore, citizens prefer the first to the second, even if we do not hear it openly, but it’s ingrained in the consciousness of society.

Alpher believes that the war doesn’t only serve Netanyahu’s personal interests, but also supports broad segments of Israeli society that yearn for national unity at any cost.

The price, he explains, is sacrificing hostages, sacrificing soldiers on the battlefield almost every day, and crushing the economy.

They believe that internal unity is only a means to achieve the real goal, which is to achieve victory in a multi-front regional war against Iran and its proxies.

Alpher asserted, “But the truth is that eternal war isn’t a means to achieve victory, but rather a tool to ensure this internal unity on which they depend”.

“How long will the eternal war last? Not forever… Nothing lasts forever… Every day the war continues, the liberal side grows weaker”.

Alpher gives an example, saying, “The pilots who refused to serve in the name of democracy before the war are corrupting their humanitarian values ​​in the mass killing of civilians in Gaza… In the eyes of the Europeans, the brothers in arms who expressed their protest in the name of democracy are turning into wanted war criminals”.

“A strong economy that requires a stable democracy is collapsing,” Alpher added.

“Hundreds of thousands of liberals have left Israel… Those who remain will either succumb to the spirit of the times or close themselves off in a shell of indifference”.

Alpher concluded, “The eternal war will end when the outcome of the civil war is determined… When the liberals are defeated, and it will end when the entire country becomes a religiously committed, authoritarian, fascist army, and an advanced military outpost for the United States in the Middle East”.