
Israeli Writer: Israel is Sunk in Its Ugliest Division In an article published in Maariv, the Israeli writer Shlomo Shamir paints a bleak picture of Israel, which is experiencing its worst internal division at a time when it needs unity more than ever. Shamir links two simultaneous events: The first inside Israel: The election of Rabbi Zevadia Cohen (Haredi) as mayor of Tel Aviv for the first time in the city’s history. This sparked great anger among secular residents, who see it as a “Haredi invasion” of their traditionally secular city. The second outside Israel: A terrorist attack in London that left British Jews fearful and angry, looking to Israel as their “safe home” and refuge that should stand by their side. Shamir adds: While Jews abroad need a united and strong Israel to support them, we find Israel deeply divided against itself between the secular majority and the Haredi minority. This division has reached the stage of mutual hatred, violence, hysteria, rifts, and inappropriate behavior. Shamir strongly criticizes the official government response, particularly the cancellation of tax exemptions for donors to religious schools, describing it as a harsh punitive measure that deepens the rift and increases hatred instead of solving the problem. He describes the prevailing tension in Israeli society with strong words: mutual hatred, violence, hysteria, rifts, and inappropriate behavior, noting that the confrontation has gone beyond the issue of drafting yeshiva students and has turned into a comprehensive crisis threatening the social fabric. The main problem, according to Shamir, is the absence of responsible leadership: Neither the Haredi side nor the secular side has figures capable of calming the situation and preventing social collapse. The article concludes with a stark warning: While the Jewish world needs a strong and cohesive Israel, the state is drowning in its ugliest internal division, which threatens its cohesion in the face of external challenges.





