On this trip to Israel, March to April 2010, where I lectured to more executives , academics, and politicians than usual, I noticed something that made me worry more than usual.
It was not the nuclear threat of Iran, nor the never-ending struggle with the Palestinians, nor the continuous daily Kassam missile attacks on cities in the south, nor the apparent distancing of the Obama administration.
There was something deeper, something that might be the reason why Israel cannot deal successfully with the above problems.
It was a feeling I got that the Israelis are losing hope. There is a sense of apathy. Of doom. Of: “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”
I remember Israel’s first ten years as a nation. Small. Weak. Economically in real trouble. Food had to allocated; there was not enough for all. But the spirit was high. There was enthusiasm. There was hope.
Today, I see more top-of-the-line Mercedes and other luxury cars on the roads here than in an average American city, and the high-rises in Tel Aviv are starting to resemble Manhattan, if not Shanghai. People travel abroad for vacations, something people only dreamed about fifty years ago. But the spirit is low.
People tell me there is no solution to the Iran threat. The Iranians are smart and they have spread out their nuclear facilities in so many places and hidden them so well underground that there is no air strike – American, NATO, or Israeli – that can destroy their capability. At best, Iranian efforts can only be frustrated.
And sanctions do not work. They did not work in Serbia, in Cuba, or anywhere else. There is always some country that refuses to join. There are always people who know how to cross borders and bring goods in, and corrupt officials who close an eye to this practice and get rich from bribes.
Furthermore, people in the sanctioned country often rally behind their leaders when the country is threatened. And opposition is silenced.
There is also a loss of hope that there will ever be a peace treaty with the Palestinians, who do not seem to have leaders who can muscle the political strength to get people to accept what is acceptable to the Israelis. And the same is true for Israel: There is no agreement acceptable to the Palestinians that Israelis will live with.
So there is a feeling of being hopelessly stuck. And yet the situation is not stable; for the Israelis, it is steadily deteriorating. Time is working in favor of the Palestinians, especially those who are citizens of Israel. Their reproduction rate is high; their villages are expanding into towns and metropolises.
While the Arabs are spreading out horizontally, their cities eating up more and more land, the Israelis are growing upward – into high-rises. Meanwhile, their share of the land is shrinking.
With time, Israel will cease to be a Jewish state by default. It will have become a multinational state.
It will become impossible to draw logical boundaries between a Jewish state and a Palestinian state. You will not even be able to call some cities Jewish and others Arab.
So, people tell me, there is no hope. There is no light at the end of the tunnel.
But I believe I see something further, beyond this phenomenon of hopelessness.
It is one of the characteristics of being Jewish that we feel guilty all the time. For anything and everything. And this continual self-flagellation is feeding this sense of hopelessness.
There is a tremendous amount of angst among Israelis about the behavior of their country, at all times, good and bad, and this angst can be seen in the number of column inches devoted to the topic by Israeli newspapers. Israel should actually be proud of the behavior of its soldiers during war; in spite of some transgressions it is, morally, one of the better-behaved armies in the world. Nevertheless, Israelis criticize themselves endlessly. And the world listens and believes them; if they themselves admit how bad they are, well, they must really be bad.
Israel is losing its spirit and its hope – the very characteristics that enabled it to be born and survive so many wars.
When (I) goes down, (E) goes down, and eventually (P) will go down.
I am worried.
“There is a tremendous amount of angst among Israelis about the behavior of their country, at all times, good and bad…”
I mostly agree with this statement, based upon the Israelis and American-Israelis I’ve encountered. But how does one explain a common feeling of guilt across an entire society?
Is it at all possible that Israel has achieved commercial success but not happiness? Perhaps Israel, having achieved a comfortable measure of commercial success, is simply more conscious of its image…perhaps there is an identity crisis, now that the country is growing and advancing to new stages in its own lifecycle.
Either way, there does appear to be some dis(I)ntegration occurring, but it could just be growing pains as Israel accepts a changing role in a changing world.
[...] Travel report on Israel, Part 2 [...]
I am worried as well. The Israelis angst and hopelessness is probably caused by several reasons.
One is that Israel herself has lost vision and identity, another reason is the islamic radicalization and growing influence (and threat!) on the civilized world (and Israel is first in line), and a third “mega-reason” is probably that Israel is more friendless than ever; both the USA and the EU are now driven by a “radical relativeness” (“it’s our fault that the world is in such a disarray”) and a “multicultural relativeness” (all governing systems, cultures, beliefs, religions are just as good or bad) which means that we are more tolerant and “political correct” towards dictatorships and hysteric masses than towards democracy and civic rights, freedom of speech and common sense.
What can Israel do? A small, but important part herself, but far from enough if it is not based on an integrated effort from the democratic world. How can that happen? Through a daily effort where-ever we are to influence everyone that democracy, enlightenment, freedom and individual rights are the only way to maintain civilization. We have to influence the “Western Opinion” and thereby force governments to stand up against tyranny. USA and EU have to bring the Arabic world to the table for a real partnership, but be absolutely 100% clear about our values and rights that are not up for discussion.
Israel must re-take the role as the beacon of civilization in the region (that should be her identity btw), and we have to support it. This is not only about Israel´s survival. You know who is next in line? The UK, The Netherlands, Denmark…..Europe. You can see the same hopelessness and angst here, only “hidden” and to a smaller degree. I hate to say it, but maybe it is too late already. It is the “March of Folly”.
It is not as bad as it appear.
I live in Israel for the last 42 years & although I see & sense that growing despair from
The peace process & the growing corruption, the people are not afraid.
There is confidence in Israel’s strength & the people are generlly happy.
I think we are getting a bit spoild thow, & that is why a lot of people “can’t wait any longer”
For things to get better.
You will see thow that if & when we will get in to a real trouble,
Immediately the spirit will get hi.
It has happend before & will happend again.
You see, we don’t have a choice, we simply must.
I completely agree with Boaz’s comment. The situation is not bad, Israel didn’t lose happiness and the spirit will show up when needed.
I am encouraged to read the writers concern about us, in Israel. I know that you are angst because you concern. It should be like that.
Also the fear that Israel will not continue to be a Jewish country is based on worng assumptions.
You consider only one solution as a possible solution. It is wrong.
Israel became a strong country due to the continuous struggle in our neighborhood.
Shabat Shalom
Although the future points to the direction of your concerns, we can not loose hope, the jews around the world and israelis living in Israel were in a much more dificult situations in the past, we were still able to survive and become a sucssesful nation.
Why worry when you can pray?
Read the Hebrew Bible. Accept God’s promise of sovereign and absolute protection of the people of Israel.
“When (I) goes down, (E) goes down, and eventually (P) will go down” it is time For Jews and Gentiles everywhere to go to their knees in prayer, seek the wisdom and protection of our Sovereign God.
Itchak, Adizes concepts may be helpful to frame the problems and solutions, but it is our Sovereign God who will enable the peace, protection and sustained prosperity of a troubled and insecure Israel.
Adizes, how can you consider the situation in Israel without any mention of the God of Israel? History tells us that it is the God of Israel who made the nation great, not its people, commerce or material possessions. My understanding, which is reinforced by your perspective, is that Israel has become a secular society instead of one that sets itself apart by its devotion to God.
The future of Israel seems to be based on its devotion, or lack thereof, to the God of glory. Circumstances can change, but God is still God. He is still all powerful, all knowing and totally capable to overcome any challenge to His people IF and only IF they are devoted to Him. Isn’t that what history has demonstrated again and again?
Consider how God communicated through Isaiah (43:1-5): “…Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you…”
There have been times when I have read this passage and it has brought tears to my eyes as God communicates “…you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you…” How can the God of the universe care for individual people so deeply? It is amazing.
I suggest the historical record proves it is your faith that made your people distinct, wise, powerful, influential, prosperous and protected. Without Yahweh, the God of Israel, how can the nation of Isreal have a long-term future? It seems one solution based on historical precedent is for us to pray for revival.
Thank you for your perspectives.
The melancholic situation is a traditional position of the Israeli/Jewish peple. The position is called crying while shooting.
We had terrible incompetent leadership in 2006. The armed forces had to have a blow in the face to wake up. Which they are now.
You do not see less numbers of devotion to combat duty in the young generetion enlisting for the for three years compulsory service.
There is no reduction in birth rate in the population.
We have leaders of states in Europe more understanding to Israel positions.
The last economic crisis affected Israel economy less than many other country but China.
It is safe for my young girls to walk unescorted in all parts of our cities.
But even if the case is as observed than what do each of us Israeli Jewish and friends may do about it but carry on with his job/project caring for his family and neighbors.
Yours
Eli
Any country’s strength is not only measured by its military strength, but also by its moral stand. With an occupation that is lasting now more than 40 years, and the inability to grant full citizenship rights, Israel has a problem.
although the majority of Israelis would like to let go of this reality, we have a difficulty in finding a partner that will be willing to go along with the solution. The withdrawal from Gaza,although one-sided, left us with new enemies who bombard us from territories we’ve given up.
the situation created a true question in the minds of many Israelis of whether peace is truly possible.
It is not” living from one day to another”.
I appreciate the words of Kjetil who challenges Israel, to once again take a role in society stressing the notion of freedom democracy ,and the value system between one man and another a contribution to mankind of Judaism.it is also the exclusive speaking in the name of God or one religion’s interpretation versus another that is exaggerating this conflict further.
we call our country a democratic Jewish state, we have 13 parties in our Parliament and 20% of our population in delegation in the parliament represent minorities. If we learn to balance well both democracy as well as a shelter for all Jews around the world even those sitting far and criticizing us,will find a place one day.
“There is a tremendous amount of angst among Israelis about the behavior of their country”
So is the case in the USA, Greece, Portugal, Italy and Spain – and thier citizens have nothing to do with Iran or the Palestinians.
Interestingly there is a tremendous amount of angst among Iranians and Egyptians about the behavior of their contries.
So I would suggest that stagnation is the problem and not necessarily lost of hope. We have poisoned our societies to be impatient and demanding.
Corrption, lack of leadership and the politization of the media made us lazy and spoiled. We lost the trust in ourseves. It is easy to blame the governments for everyting.
Yehoram
I think the comments to his blog correctly answer many of the questions you raise.
Perhaps one comment missing is the unprecedented way the American President has treated Israel. Israel has always felt that America was its only true friend in the world.
Look how your President sets up the equation in the Middle East. So simplistic. Create a Palestinian State and that will create peace.
Before you buy his thinking, compare the contributions of “the Palestinian people” (or even the entire Arab world) to that of Israel, technology, innovation, a sense of idealism, equality.
You definitely don’t want to be a woman in the Arab world. You have no rights.
The Israelis haven’t “oppressed” the entire Arab world (even if you are fooled into thinking they’ve “oppressed” the Palestinians). So why is the Arab world so backward, with such crushing poverty, higher infant mortality, lower life expectancy, lack of business innovation, lower overall educational achievement?
There are 12 Arab countries in the world and creating one more isn’t going to change the fundamental problem in their culture. Israel occupies a tiny spot of land (and one of the most dense population concentrations of any country.) Slicing up Israel isn’t going to solve any real problems.
Your President’s lack if friendship and loyalty to Israel shows a baseness and lack of understanding. Israelis are disheartened with him, but we’ll survive him too.
My dear professor, my guess is that you’ve read the wrong newspapers and met the wrong people. As you most certainly know, most Israelis have the choice to live in Israel or to do so elsewhere, and they vote with their legs, i.e., they prefer to live in their country. Statistically the amount of new ‘Yordim’ is declining since the sixties onwards.
Most of those half million Israelis who immigrated did so during the first thirty years of our existence as a nation, in most cases due to the bad economic situation. Even those academics, who have decided to immigrate, have done so by and large because they couldn’t fulfill themselves or bring into being what they considered to be their real potential. BTW Most of them (unlike you my dear professor) haven’t succeeded to exceptionally do so elsewhere and they’re dreaming and waiting for the moment they’d be able to return. And don’t be mistaken the elite of this nation’s new researchers namely the top 10% are welcomed and absorbed in our excellent research institutes and universities.
It’s not that people are losing hope then, as you interprets the situation, better say that this stubborn people who lives in Zion, boiling from surplus energy and talent, just doesn’t have the patience to climb the ladder step by step as most people have done during the civilizing progress. It took us 60 years to establish one of the most amazing countries in the world (while fighting at the same time 7 wars and absorbing millions of poor immigrants to mention few of the hardships) but we feel frustrated since we haven’t done better. We enjoy comparing ourselves to the leading western worlds’ nations which were established hundreds of years ago and we find it hard to understand why we can’t be ahead of them. It’s not hope that certain people are missing, it’s some sense of history and some sort of modesty and most of all some sense of proportion which those executives , academics, and politicians you’ve met are missing.
best…
Benda
Mr.Adizes, I consider your report as an alarm that would motivate israelis leadership.
Marikeri
Very critical situation and insightful comments…I say Amen to David Russell’s perspective.
The past, present and future fate of Israel is ultimately in the hands of God and the faithful responses of God’s people. Having said that, I firmly believe the nation’s self-esteem, security and hope will be tested even more in the days ahead..and later, her enemies will be defeated. As for her friends, I hope the US stands with Israel…like it or not, Jews and Christians are lumped into the same category by many in the world today.
It is really very difficult for me to imagine what is going on. Today I had a meeting with a fellow here at work, he had lost hope in the company. When he told me that, i knew nothing I’ll say will changue his mind.
When you lose hope, you lose everything. When you have hope, nothing can stop you. Thats for sure.