This article previously appeared in Israel Hayom on March 10, 2025.
A nation is tested by dangers and during crises and armed conflicts. Only strong resilience is capable of navigating against all odds. Demoralization kills action and risks plunging the country into an irreversible coma. Despite serious military and governmental failures, the overwhelming majority of the Israeli people have demonstrated since Oct. 7, 2023, exemplary courage in the fight against Islamist terrorism, remarkable determination for the release of the hostages and unprecedented support for all families in distress, in particular for the Bibas family. In painful and difficult times, Israelis have always had the ability to unite and continue their way of life. This popular solidarity is unique among nations and has characterized the destiny of the Jewish people since the dawn of time.
However, the shockwave of Oct. 7 must not plunge the country into discouragement and daily depression. A people of three thousand years must never lose its soul. Resilience is our strength; our union is a noble goal.
In general, we are fearful, pessimistic and cynical because the past swallows us up. We ask the same questions and we answer the same answers. Optimistic or pessimistic words cannot change reality; it is reality that modifies the speeches. Despite all the difficulties and threats, we are the only ones on the planet who can always count on our faith and on the unwavering solidarity of the Jewish communities. The zone of turbulence could be temporary and the inevitability must be fought with determination.
In this context, we note that the majority of reports and comments by journalists on television channels, in the written press and on social networks remain skeptical and pessimistic. The liberal-left daily Haaretz often dictates the political agenda, presenting it generally in a style that is always cynical and depressing. Often, and in an elitist manner, some of the newspaper’s commentators allow themselves with vanity and pretension to give lessons in morality and good conduct, and also give the impression of holding a monopoly on the truth, on knowing what is good or bad for the State of Israel.
Certainly, the duty of the media is to disseminate news and criticize all injustices and shortcomings, but in reality we are unfortunately observing an overdose on the same subjects, a kind of brainwashing, a bombardment of information and messages that have not changed since Oct. 7. We no longer distinguish between raw news and commentary and often personal opinion dominates.
On Channel 12 News, for example, we observe a real obsession to focus all the television news, all the programs on the pain of the families of the hostages, by constantly broadcasting painful images of the detainees and systematically accusing the head of government of inaction and indifference to the fate of the hostages without explaining with a certain distance all the issues and constraints. The debates are mediocre, the comments pretentious and the slogans demoralizing. We can guess in advance the content of the analyses. International politics and the geopolitical situation are rarely mentioned.
On the other hand, on Channel 14 News, political communication advisers “close to power” dominate the debates with demagogy, sow discord and provoke unnecessary internal quarrels.
Basically, they recite government messages without any doubt. They harshly criticize anyone who does not think like them. This dishonorable attitude does not represent the true profession of journalism, nor does it represent ethics and deontology. Unfortunately, they harm Israel’s image and even government credibility. Their goal is to confuse media messages and satisfy the whims of the leader in power.
Certainly, constitutional reforms are necessary because they enrich democratic values, but they must be done in consultation with all parties. On the other hand, the systematic attacks on IDF generals, on heads of state services and especially on the judiciary considerably weaken the rule of law. On this subject, Paul Valéry rightly said: “If the State is strong, it crushes us, if it is weak we perish.”
Propaganda is not self-evident, the bombardment of empty messages does not form a justified and applicable policy. Propaganda, from the left as well as the right, feeds the whims of power, it is extremely dangerous in a democratic state in permanent war.
Let us not take things lightly and carelessly, but it is better to put the problems in their proper proportion, to present the reality in a credible manner. To see the whole range of regional and international problems, not to believe – as some journalists and communication experts do – that Israel is “the center of the world” … to comment on events only from a domestic political angle, to present a pathetic political policy that highlights every insignificant statement by this or that member of the Knesset or the government. To choose the essential, the important, and not the mediocre, the futile and the gossip.
In this complicated context, the new chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, will have to prepare Tsahal [the IDF] to continue the fight on several fronts and especially to free all the hostages. However, to be able to win a war, he must first educate to fight for a just cause, instill in officers and soldiers the principles of courage, patriotic motivations, think of original and spectacular military operations, and always make people understand that the final goal is the search for peace.
The coming years look unpredictable both for the future of our country and for international affairs following the Ukrainian crisis. And yet, with the Trump administration, opportunities for the State of Israel can be realized. Therefore, let us not miss the great events of history.
