Israel’s Divided Front: How Disunity Led to October 7th

The recent attack on Israel by Hamas and Hezbollah on October 7th has once again highlighted the deep divisions within the country, particularly when it comes to judicial reform. The ongoing debate over the independence and structure of the judiciary has created a rift among lawmakers and citizens, ultimately weakening Israel’s ability to defend itself against external threats.

Meanwhile in the summer of 2023 Hezbollah showed a military demonstration of a future operation in which they would cross the border with Israel, conquer land and take hostages. The media and politicians were overly concerned with the protests across the country concerning judicial reform that even though Hezbollah’s military demonstration was over by many journalists who were invited by them to film the demonstration, it receive little media coverage in Israel.

The issue of judicial reform in Israel has been a contentious one for years, with different political factions and interest groups pushing for contrasting changes. Some argue for a more independent judiciary, free from political interference, while others advocate for a more centralized and controlled system. This lack of consensus has resulted in a stalemate, leaving the country vulnerable to attacks from terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah.

Brother in Arms an organization that was encouraging reservists not to serve in reserves if Judicial reform changes were passed. Telling people not to defend the country if attacked only emboldens Israel’s enemies because they believed Israel was so disunited that it was an excellent time to attack. Especially with many Israelis telling international press that they would leave the country of such reforms were passed.

The attack on October 7th serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of internal disunity. As Israel grapples with the aftermath of the violence, it is crucial for lawmakers and citizens to come together and prioritize the country’s security and stability above all else. Only through a united front can Israel effectively defend itself against external threats and work towards a brighter future for all its citizens.

Politicizing the military and driving division and hatred among fellow citizens only causes people to fight each other. Many people on different sides of the debate were physically fighting in the streets. Hamas took notice and after years of military training and financial support from Qatar and Iran they chose a Jewish holiday to attack.  Historically last time Jews were attacked and exiled from Israel was during the Roman Empire that led to the destruction of the temple, many rabbinic authorities bring up baseless hatred as its leading contribution to the destruction of the last Jewish kingdom of antiquity.