Israel’s War and the Fight for the Nation’s Soul
As children slept soundly, a father grappled with the complexities of war and fatherhood. “There’s no way to fight this war and prosecute a campaign without images like these,” he admitted, drawing an analogy often heard from Israeli leaders, “You can’t mow the lawn without grass flying up. It’s not possible.” The images, of course, were a stark reminder of the human cost of the conflict, a cost that felt acutely personal for him and many others in Israel.
October 7, 2023, marked a painful turning point, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel. Hundreds were killed, and thousands more injured. “The blame belongs to Hamas,” he stated simply. “They went to randomly slaughter as many Jews as possible, women, children, soldiers.”
Israel found itself thrust into a war that promises to be lengthy and deeply divisive. The imperative of fighting overshadowed, at least for now, a simmering internal conflict over the very nature of the Jewish state. This conflict is, in many ways, a struggle between the secularist ideals held by individuals like Michael Ofer-Ziv and Yuval Green, and the increasingly powerful religious right represented by the settlements movement, and staunchly supported by figures like Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich in Netanyahu’s government.
Torn Between Two Sides
What did it mean to be a good citizen, a loyal Jew, a responsible father? This was a question that gnawed at the minds of many Israelis. For some, like Maj. Lipsky, the answer was clear. Packing for his return to military duty on the evening I met him, he was resolute. “No peace until Hamas is defeated,” he declared.
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Others, however, found themselves grappling with a different kind of responsibility, one that clashed fundamentally with the call to arms. Michael Ofer-Ziv may choose to leave Israel completely, unsure whether he can raise his children in a country where his values no longer align with the direction the nation seems to be taking.
“It just looks less and less likely that I will be able to hold the values that I hold, wanting the future that I want for my kids to live here, and that is very scary,” he confided,.
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Yuval Green, a frustrated doctor in training, hoped for a future where peacemakers on both sides could forge a new path. "I think in this conflict, there are only two sides, not the Israeli side and the Palestinian side. There is the side that supports violence and the side that supports finding better solutions," he asserted.
He acknowledged that many Israelis might disagree with his analysis but remained steadfast in his belief. “It won’t stop my mission.” Greenwood’s sense of purpose was a stark reminder of the enduring complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Adding to the volatility, massive demonstrations erupted across Israel during the months prior to October 7th, a reflection of the widespread anger over the government’s attempts to erode the power of the judiciary. This political instability promised to linger long after the guns fell silent, as communities wrestled with the echoes of war and the deep fissures dividing their nation.
Top image credit: Getty
What are some ways that Israelis are coping with the shock and trauma of the Hamas attack?
## Interview: Israel’s Warring Souls
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Today we’re delving into the complex realities facing Israel as it grapples with both an external war and internal divisions. Joining us is Dr. David Cohen, an expert on Israeli society and politics. Dr. Cohen, thank you for being here.
**Dr. Cohen:** It’s a pleasure to be here.
**Host:** The recent attack by Hamas has undoubtedly been a traumatic event for Israel. We’ve seen heartbreaking images and heard stories of unspeakable loss. How have Israelis been coping with this shock and trauma?
**Dr. Cohen:** The attack has been deeply unsettling for Israelis. As the article [1](https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-wounded-jewish-psyche-and-the-divided-israeli-soul/) explores, there’s a sense of vulnerability and anger, coupled with an outpouring of support and unity. However, beneath the surface, long-standing societal divisions are being exacerbated by the conflict.
**Host:** The article mentions a simmering conflict regarding the very nature of the Jewish state – a struggle, as it puts it, between secular ideals and the growing influence of religious right. Can you elaborate on this?
**Dr. Cohen:** Exactly. The war with Hamas has brought these tensions into sharp focus. You have those like Major Lipsky, who are driven by a sense of duty and a desire for complete victory over Hamas [1](https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-wounded-jewish-psyche-and-the-divided-israeli-soul/). But there are others, equally committed to Israel, who are grappling with the ethical complexities of the conflict and the impact it has on both Palestinians and Israeli society.
**Host:** It sounds like Israelis are asking themselves some fundamental questions about their identity and values.
**Dr. Cohen:** Absolutely. What does it mean to be a good citizen, a loyal Jew, a responsible father in the face of such brutality? These are profound questions that Israelis are struggling to answer as this war unfolds .
**Host:** This conflict is clearly going to have profound long-term consequences for Israel.
**Dr. Cohen:** Without doubt. The outcome of the war, and the choices made in its aftermath, will deeply shape the future of Israel and its relationship with the Palestinian people.
**Host:** Thank you, Dr. Cohen, for shedding light on this complex and difficult situation.
**Dr. Cohen:** It’s essential to keep the conversation going.
