The horrors of 7 October burst the bubble for progressives who had marched for democracy but sidelined the Palestinian issue, says Aluf Benn, editor-in-chief of Haaretz
The horrors of 7 October burst the bubble for progressives who had marched for democracy at home but sidelined the Palestinian issueLast modified on Mon 7 Oct 2024 16.02 CESTlive in central Tel Aviv, and walking around my neighbourhood I see packed cafes, restaurants and wine bars. Israel’s longest and toughest war is being fought several dozens of miles away, but our “non-stop city” has not altered its lifestyle.
To Israel’s Jewish liberals, Netanyahu’s refusal to “bring them home now” is another incarnation of his lifelong mission to “replace the elites”, whom he views as too cosmopolitan and condescending towards his base of socially conservative, ultra-Orthodox and ultra-nationalist Jews. Last year, after a second comeback to power at the head of a fervent rightwing coalition, Netanyahu launched a campaign to turn Israel into a theocratic, authoritarian state.
Netanyahu fuelled this self-delusion with his “managing the conflict” policy, avoiding peace or war and allowing secular Jewish Israelis to feel they were part of western Europe or the US west coast. But 7 October burst the bubble, not only on our borders, but also in our lands of inspiration.
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