Occupied Jerusalem- The knot of the eighth decade returned to discussion circles in the Israeli arena with the continuation of the war on Gaza, revealing the initial repercussions of the “Aqsa Flood” battle on the collective Israeli identity, the undermining of personal security, and the collapse of the security theory in this society.
The “Al-Aqsa Flood” – launched by Hamas on October 7, 2023 – represented a turning point in the history of the Israeli occupation with the erosion of deterrence of the Palestinian resistance, the failure to provide early warning of its attacks, the absence of an image of victory, and the failure to quickly resolve military confrontations with the Palestinian factions.
These estimates and readings were reviewed by Paiga Shohat, the former Minister of Finance during the era of Yitzhak Rabin’s government, in an interview with the “Saturday Supplement” of the Israeli newspaper “Yedioth Ahronoth”, where he directed strong criticism at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and held him responsible for the failure to prevent the surprise attack launched by it. Hamas took control of the “Gaza envelope” settlements and the western Negev, and opened the door to conflict with the Palestinians wide open.
The former minister is considered the godfather of the economic agreements emerging from the Oslo Accords, and the architect of economic relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, noting that he was one of the first Israelis to lay the foundation stone for the settlement project in the Gaza Strip in the 1950s.
the present and the future
Today, with the outbreak of the “Al-Aqsa Flood,” Shohat (87 years old) points out that he looks at the past with longing, and at the present with anger. He says, “Netanyahu has surrendered to blackmail. Billions go to things that do not contribute to the economy. If the division continues and budgets are distributed to the parties participating in the government coalition, then this is the danger to our existence.”
When he was 20 years old, Shohat, who had recently completed his military service in the army, arrived at the Nahal Oz kibbutz near Gaza City. He says, “We were living under bombing. The Egyptians did not surrender. They destroyed our economy in the kibbutz. We were fleeing to shelters all the time.” .
Shohat says in his memoirs, “Between the Desert and the Treasure,” which he published shortly before the events of last October 7, “The Egyptians occupied the Gaza Strip, and then returned it. Then calm prevailed for a few years,” and he describes the short period there as “days of war and peace in Nahal Oz.”
He added, “In March 2022, all the friends who founded the settlement project in Gaza, some of whom are still alive, went to the Gaza Strip to visit. We were guests of the kibbutz. We saw the border line, but we never imagined what happened on October 7.” “October could happen.”
Fracture and destruction
Shohat reviewed his conclusions from the events of October 7, saying, “I believe that the event was dramatic on a very high level. It undermined and shook something in the entire Israeli security concept and the great confidence that we had. I am not saying that we should surrender, but I am saying that we are at a crossroads.” “Main ways, especially in light of the rift caused by the reforms in the judicial system and the approach and policies of the Netanyahu government.”
He added, “Netanyahu is paying unreasonable prices, whether in economic policies or in the general budget. This thing must change because it is a very great danger to our presence here.”
In response to the question: Should Netanyahu leave? He said, “There is no doubt at all. On the eve of the eighth decade, if the Third Temple – with reference to the State of Israel – is destroyed, this will be recorded in the name of Netanyahu, who is exploiting the war for his personal political goals. It is an unspeakable disaster for Israel. It is simply very terrible.”
Sin and corruption
Shohat spoke about the first repercussions of the “Al-Aqsa Flood” with the far-right government’s performance during the war in everything related to internal Israeli issues, whether economic or legislation and judicial reforms, adding that the danger threatens the continuation of the Zionist project, especially if the rift in Israeli society continues.
He added, “If the policy of sectoral preference continues in Israeli society, and everything is allowed to be done and done, then the coalition’s funds and budgets to ensure the continuation of the government are equivalent to the original sin committed by Bezalel Smotrich and his partners: they established 6 or 7 unnecessary ministries that received billions of shekels with thousands of employees who are not needed.” To them, this created an unreasonable situation and reached the realm of corruption.”
Shohat explained that billions are now allocated to biblical religious education, which does not provide basic education, does not give anything to the Israeli economy, and does not develop the potential and abilities of people and members of society, saying, “Terrible things are happening, all in order to preserve the government.”
Disagreement and hatred
He believes that the rise in power of the extreme right, which he described as “crazy,” and the penetration of Messianic Jewish nationalism into Israeli society constitutes a threat to the existence of Israel. He said, “The Zionist movement was not established for the sake of building the Temple, and when my father immigrated to Palestine in 1925, when he was 17 years old, he came.” To build Israel, not the temple.
Shohat says, “After the events of October 7, I admit that I feel more worried than ever before, and also because of the internal discord and hatred that Netanyahu has established, who has become the bearer of the sectarian division among the Jews. It has become a political tool to obtain votes.”
Commenting on the campaign led by Netanyahu against the Oslo Accords, which he considered a “major disaster” that led to the events of October 7, Shohat said, “This is just big nonsense… We were running the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, educating millions of Arabs there, and providing them with services.” But they did not want us. Little by little, the resistance developed there. It is impossible to imagine a situation in which we will continue to control 7 million Arabs between the sea and the river, while we are 6 to 7 million Jews. This cannot continue.”
