“Israel has chosen to operate its delf-destruction mechanism”
Former Mossad Director Tamir Pardo blames Israel's leaders over the past decades for opting to “numb the public” rather than make a decision on the country's borders and its settlements enterprise. “Israel has fallen into a coma”
Mandi Kogosowski
| 01/06/2022
Photo: Tamir Bargig, Netanya Academic College
“The State of Israel has chosen to operate its own self-destruction mechanism. Please stop before it is too late.” These poignant words were spoken by the Former Director of the Mossad, during his lecture at the Meir Dagan Conference on Security and Strategy at the Netanya Academic College yesterday (Wednesday).
“We haven’t learned a thing. We live in a global village where everything is transparent, and everyone is watching what is happening here on a daily basis and just waiting. Are we ready to read the writing on the wall?
“Against all odds, we created a state. A wealthy country with high-tech, agriculture, medicine and more. Yet, this country is torn and bleeding. The dangers have not passed, and our ill-wishers are just waiting for the right time,” Pardo continued.
“In a short while, the self-destruction mechanism – mutual hatred – will be turned on,” he said.
“Following four election campaigns within two years, Israel managed to form a complex government that obtained a majority in the Knesset. Yet, the ousted party and coalition refuses to acknowledge these results, and address the prime minister by his title,” said Pardo. “This is now something unimportant, but rather a statement of not acknowledging the legality of the government.”
Pardo also criticized the opposition for refusing to support any and all laws proposed by the coalition, saying that “the political mindset of aiming to paralyze the government’s entire activity does not comply with the social convention rules on which any democratic regime is based.
Is Jerusalem really united?
Pardo believes that the real polarization, though, has been hidden intentionally – part of it since the state was established in 1948. He discussed the controversy surrounding the Flag March which took place last week. “An entire country discussed whether it can hold a parade in its capital. This is unprecedented,” he said.
This led Pardo to his main question: “Is Jerusalem really united? Has Israel done anything, since 1967, to unite the city?” he asked rhetorically. “Is there another capital in the world which has a refugee camp? Is there another capital where not all of its residents have full and equal rights? We decided on the unification of Jerusalem back in 1967, but haven’t done anything in order to unify the city.”
“The decision not to decide is very meaningful. Israel has fallen into a coma, without any strategy. Over the years, the settlement enterprise started receiving both passive and active support of the governments, which has made things quite complex. In the past few decades, there has been a fear that no decision can be reached without running the risk of a civil war.
“Why haven’t Israel’s governments defined the borders of the territories we want? The state’s leaders are afraid of sanctions and boycotts. Our politicians have chosen to numb the public and thereby make their decision on the nation’s fate while running away from reality and the sound of the ticking clock.”
Former Mossad Director Tamir Pardo blames Israel's leaders over the past decades for opting to “numb the public” rather than make a decision on the country's borders and its settlements enterprise. “Israel has fallen into a coma”
Photo: Tamir Bargig, Netanya Academic College
“The State of Israel has chosen to operate its own self-destruction mechanism. Please stop before it is too late.” These poignant words were spoken by the Former Director of the Mossad, during his lecture at the Meir Dagan Conference on Security and Strategy at the Netanya Academic College yesterday (Wednesday).
“We haven’t learned a thing. We live in a global village where everything is transparent, and everyone is watching what is happening here on a daily basis and just waiting. Are we ready to read the writing on the wall?
“Against all odds, we created a state. A wealthy country with high-tech, agriculture, medicine and more. Yet, this country is torn and bleeding. The dangers have not passed, and our ill-wishers are just waiting for the right time,” Pardo continued.
“In a short while, the self-destruction mechanism – mutual hatred – will be turned on,” he said.
“Following four election campaigns within two years, Israel managed to form a complex government that obtained a majority in the Knesset. Yet, the ousted party and coalition refuses to acknowledge these results, and address the prime minister by his title,” said Pardo. “This is now something unimportant, but rather a statement of not acknowledging the legality of the government.”
Pardo also criticized the opposition for refusing to support any and all laws proposed by the coalition, saying that “the political mindset of aiming to paralyze the government’s entire activity does not comply with the social convention rules on which any democratic regime is based.
Is Jerusalem really united?
Pardo believes that the real polarization, though, has been hidden intentionally – part of it since the state was established in 1948. He discussed the controversy surrounding the Flag March which took place last week. “An entire country discussed whether it can hold a parade in its capital. This is unprecedented,” he said.
This led Pardo to his main question: “Is Jerusalem really united? Has Israel done anything, since 1967, to unite the city?” he asked rhetorically. “Is there another capital in the world which has a refugee camp? Is there another capital where not all of its residents have full and equal rights? We decided on the unification of Jerusalem back in 1967, but haven’t done anything in order to unify the city.”
“The decision not to decide is very meaningful. Israel has fallen into a coma, without any strategy. Over the years, the settlement enterprise started receiving both passive and active support of the governments, which has made things quite complex. In the past few decades, there has been a fear that no decision can be reached without running the risk of a civil war.
“Why haven’t Israel’s governments defined the borders of the territories we want? The state’s leaders are afraid of sanctions and boycotts. Our politicians have chosen to numb the public and thereby make their decision on the nation’s fate while running away from reality and the sound of the ticking clock.”
