A Lost Vision Begs Retrieving – and Improvement
An emerging politician was interviewed on a television program last night. He has a steady spot on television panels that became routine since October 7. His political leanings are clear. Not aligned with mine. In the interview, as in most interviews with politicians, he was asked if he would agree to his party forming a coalition for the next government that would include an Arab party. His absolute objection was not surprising. The standard response from all but the members of one Zionist political party.
The standard follow-up reminds politicians that the government before the current one included an Arab party which both that government and the opposition courted during negotiations to form a coalition. This interviewee, unhesitatingly began his response saying, “Since October 7…” Like any Israeli, I knew where that was going. I wanted to scream and hold my hands over my ears at the same time. Anything not to hear him elaborate: Since October 7, he can’t trust any Arab.
Really? Do he and I live in the same country? I understand that when you hear a language you don’t speak and you know the Nukhba forces of Hamas speak that language, you’re inclined to put up your guard. But we know there were Arab, Palestinian citizens of the State of Israel, killed October 7, taken hostage October 7, and Arab citizens who volunteered alongside Jewish citizens in brave efforts to protect the economy and society in the days that ensued, even as those Arab citizens confronted increased discrimination stemming from fears aroused by the events of October 7.
As Arab citizens worrying about the situation in Gaza were silenced, I freely expressed my concerns for innocent Gazans subject to Israeli attacks. Except if expressing my concerns graphically would make Friday evening family dinners unpleasant before I also expressed appreciation of the complexity, and my deep concern for the future of Israel, the Israel I’m convinced was there and begs being retrieved.
This past week, I reconnected with a friend after more than 30 years. We spent four hours doing an initial catch-up. The most personal matters of life for me are deeply inseparable from the sociopolitical reality. In that spirit, I mentioned seeing an immunologist in 2023, before October 7. I mentioned telling the doctor that if we could end the government’s attempt at judicial reform, maybe my recurrent rashes would disappear. My friend sighed in relief, able to dismiss her worries lest she had discovered I support the government.
We agreed it’s next to impossible to have friendships today with people who support the government, if you don’t. But it goes deeper. Not supporting the government – you can get through family and social situations roughly agreeing on that, if just by agreeing something is wrong when ultra-Orthodox, Haredi Jewish parties object to their constituents serving in the army and still manage to get disproportionate government funding for their communal needs. But the true sigh of relief in conversation with my old friend was when we spoke enough to know that we could live with renewing our friendship because we are both ashamed today to be Israeli. Sadly. Neither of us are oblivious to threats to Israel or threats of anti-Semitism, but we agree about the justification for criticism of Israel to which so many Israelis respond with denial. Self-denial.
The only problem is that after the exhilaration of knowing you’re in good company, there’s that abysmal fall – I crave validation of my positions outside of my bubble with Haim, with colleagues from organizations identified with ideologies that guide my life and thinking, and that inner social circle of select friends with whom we argue about the nuances. An incidental encounter and validation from this old friend.
Another part of me, wishing to wake up from the nightmare, for someone to convince me there is no such thing as Jewish settlers burning homes of Palestinians in the West Bank and threatening Palestinians in the West Bank as an ethnic cleansing practice – because there was a story on the news about that last night too.
Harriet Gimpel, May 30, 2026