Screens of fury, hearts of stone

“I’m sentimental, if you know what I mean

I love the country, but I can’t stand the scene

And I’m neither left nor right

I’m just staying home tonight

Getting lost in that hopeless little screen”

Leonard Cohen, Democracy

Being glued to the box more often than not, unhealthily and obsessively, watching hundreds of thousands of people all over the world demonstrating vociferously, and sometimes violently, against my country, witnessing Jewish communities worldwide being exposed to the scourge of never – ending  Anti-Semitism, university campuses torn asunder with Jew hatred, and seeing live and upfront, the devastating and  heartbreaking protests tearing our fellow Israelis – and our country apart, I thought about the hxxxx leadership luxuriating in 6 star luxury hotels in Doha.

While the treacherous Qatar ‘mediators’ are giving them succor and support, and their comrades – in – crimes, in Gaza, are basking in tunnels deep underground, cushily ‘protected’ by Gaza civilians above ground, they have an  unlimited supply of food, and air conditioning, are similarly glued to their screens binge watching, I imagine, in sheer amazement and unadulterated joy, taking pleasure in what they have wrought –  beyond their wildest dreams, and wondering why they should give this all up: the warm embrace of spineless  political leadership around the world clamoring to recognize the ‘state of Palestine’, the global unconditional support for their brutal cause, their capture of students at elite campuses, the poisonous, untrustworthy media,  beaming the war into their homes in real time, a non – stop reality show for the masses. Why therefore, should they stop the war, give up their arms and be prepared to go into exile?  Why should they fall on their swords when they have a global echo chamber fiercely and ferociously fanning the wind beneath their wings?

We have been at war now for almost 2 years. The losses and outcomes are traumatic and devastating, with our hostages still languishing in absolute hell for almost 700 days. The country and our people are broken; many countries around the world have turned their backs on us. The events of October 7 have left Israel reeling from a profound national tragedy, while in Gaza, countless civilians used by hxxxx as human shields, have endured unbearable suffering in the aftermath. Yuval Biton, Head of the Intelligence Division of the Israel Prison Service, once asked Sinwar if it was worth 10,000 innocent Gazans dying for the cause. He replied unequivocally. “Even 100,000 Gazans is worth it.”  (Haaretz, April 13th, 2024).

For us in Israel, questions of responsibility and accountability for that fateful day and subsequently – and problems of leadership and what’s happening in Gaza, remain, and cannot be overlooked.

Given the power and impact of global screens fueling the war, leading to our ever-growing isolation, and the dire consequences of Western leaders allowing destructive narratives to prevail, seeking it seems, easy solutions to the most complex, intractable problems, one wonders how different  the outcomes could have been – had these  leaders demonstrated courage, fortitude – and foresight, to say unanimously and unambiguously, and with clear moral intent: we are prepared to enter into serious discussions about the possibility of a Palestinian state – on 1 condition: release the hostages, lay down your arms, and remove yourselves from Gaza.