I do not understand how those who declare themselves “right-wing” envision Israel’s future if it continues on its current trajectory.
I do not mean those who are convinced that prayers alone can determine reality, nor those who are certain that they understand the precise will of the Almighty regarding political issues and view the Bible as a manual for modern-day governance. I appeal to other right-wingers – religious, traditional, and secular.
To begin, there is no argument that in 1967, Israel was attacked by Jordan and subsequently conquered the territory known as “Judea and Samaria” or “the West Bank.” Let us also agree that not all Palestinians are admirers of Zionism and that it would have been better for them and for us if we had not found ourselves sharing the same patch of land, hoping the other side will vanish, knowing that this will not happen.
Moreover, there were Muslims and Arabs, including Palestinians, who did not mourn on October 7. Having agreed, we can proceed.
Many on the Left and in the Center believe that Israel is locking itself into an inextricable trap, thus heading toward disaster.
Here is why: After the Six Day War, the prevailing view in Israel was that the territories would serve as bargaining chips in peace negotiations, perhaps with minor border adjustments. International law forbids acquisition of territory by conquest and prohibits the transfer of populations from the occupier’s territory into the occupied zone, and vice versa, except for security reasons.
Israel, therefore, took care to justify any expansion of civilian presence in the territories with security arguments. Over time, 58 out of 77 years of independence, these became less convincing, yet care was taken to maintain a semblance of legality.
From bargaining chips to annexation: a dangerous shift
Now, however, annexation is openly promoted, outposts that are unauthorized even under Israeli law are retroactively legalized, and the decision to build near Ma’aleh Adumim effectively precludes the establishment of a contiguous Palestinian entity. This indicates that Israel is not willing to engage in a process that could lead to territorial compromise, not now and not in the future.
In doing so, it disregards not only international law but also the Palestinians, who are destined to remain under perpetual Israeli rule.
Does the Right believe that the Palestinians will go along with this? Maintaining control will demand ever more resources. Taxes will rise, productivity will fall, and casualties on both sides will rise. The world – and let us again agree, this time on its hypocrisy – will not accept this eternal subjugation and will gradually impose more and more sanctions.
The warning signs are there for all to see. Fine, we may not participate in the Eurovision Song Contest, but will we grow tea and coffee? Search for iron mines? Produce our own computers and airplanes?
Meanwhile, the police crackdown on anti-government protesters, while settlers, including “hilltop youth,” are nearly immune, signals a policy that undermines principles cherished by many citizens while hurting everyone’s wallet. If all this persists, emigration will continue to rise, especially among those whose skills are in demand.
How long will it be before Israel becomes not only isolated but also loses many of its capabilities? How will it then survive in this region?
What is the Right’s answer to this scenario? If I was wrong in the description above, please show me where and how. “They started,” I agree. “Did you see what happened on October 7?” Yes. “But they don’t want us here!” Probably, and that goes both ways. We agree about “them,” but what about “us?”
Given growing international recognition of a Palestinian state and that the Israeli government is doing everything in its power to prevent the possibility of a political solution, not only now, but at any time in the future, what is the Right’s plan to avert the impending disaster? Is there a plan?
The writer was Israel’s first ambassador to the Baltic states after the disintegration of the Soviet Union, ambassador to South Africa, and congressional liaison officer at the embassy in Washington. She is a graduate of Israel’s National Defense College.