To Gantz, Lapid, and Deri

Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid, like many of us, you are undoubtedly alarmed by the state of our beloved country. A time when during a war a handful of extreme voices, are mired in politics and rhetoric that endangers the lives of the hostages, fuels division, and weakens our economy and international standing.

I call on you to urgently reach out to the Prime Minister and demand a critical meeting. The message should be clear:

“Mr. Prime Minister, while we may disagree on many things, personally and politically, there’s also no denying we’ve all been part of governments that failed to complete their terms. But the current situation is not just bad—it is unbearable for an Israeli society in post-trauma since October 7.

Bibi, you know as well as we do that some members of your government are undermining national security, jeopardizing the safety of hostages, eroding foreign relations, and causing internal and economic instability.

By that, they are also weakening your position as the Prime Minister of all citizens, damaging your political standing (you see the polls), and tarnishing your international reputation.

We recognize that you may view this offer with skepticism, but we are ready to give you political backing. To show how serious we are, we are prepared to do something we’d rather avoid in normal circumstances, something that could even harm us politically, but the situation demands it.

We are willing to join the government and the cabinet for one year to establish a ‘Temporary Government of Sanity’. This coalition will support any decision that restores calm to Israel, brings our brothers and sisters back home, and initiates steps towards economic stability and recovery.

After this period and once the country is on a better path, we can agree on a date for new elections or you can revert to your ‘natural partners’ (who have no political alternative but you).”

Don’t give up. If the Prime Minister brushes you off with empty rhetoric, hold a joint press conference and let the public know how far you’re willing to go to create this “Government of Sanity.”

And you can have one of the most politically important people in the coalition, to bolster this move, whose voice hasn’t been heard enough lately.

Aryeh Deri, you too can see what’s happening in our country. You read the same news we wake up to each morning, and you are perhaps more familiar than most with what’s really going on in government meetings and the cabinet.

What would Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, your guiding light and moral compass, say on the matter of redeeming hostages? Is there a doubt he would utilize Shas to take action that would save the lives of those suffering in captivity?

You also know that he probably would back you fully – perhaps even order you – to take action to promote calm. That later could lead to regional agreements, transforming Israel’s dire situation from the depths of despair to the heights of a bright future.

You are a crucial part of this meeting. You may not seek the spotlight like some of your coalition partners, but unlike them, you have in a way, another political option. Now is the time for you to pound the table and tell the Prime Minister that the nation’s well-being comes before everything else.

Inform him that Shas is willing to make temporary coalition concessions to allow additional parties to stabilize the ship. Even if they “aren’t parties we’ve voted for, Mr. Prime Minister”.

Aryeh, don’t give up. Make it clear to the Prime Minister: It’s either a Temporary Government of Sanity or a real shake-up in coalition stability – not just an empty media leaks. Let him choose.