The election results in Israel have sparked outrage among the Israeli left, with many talking about emigrating from the country as a way to express their fury. The new government, led by Netanyahu and his allies, is expected to take actions that will harm the interests of the left, such as giving the Knesset supremacy over the Supreme Court. There are also fears that Netanyahu will use his victory to escape his ongoing trial.
The gap between emotion and reality may be large at times. In many ways Israel has never been in a better position. After a period of political turmoil, we can now look to the future with hope. There are several reasons for optimism.
It's a relief to see that a stable government is going to be finally in place in Israel, one that is capable of addressing pressing issues such as building the Tel Aviv metro and the housing crisis. Even on the issue of visa exemptions for travel to the US, this Knesset is a welcome change from the previous one, whose inaction on these issues was shameful. True, it's embarrassing to see how those responsible for this inaction, the opposition members in the last Knesset, were rewarded.
Thanks to the efforts of previous governments, a subway system has partially arrived in Gush Dan. This is a historic improvement that is within reach, and will bring much-needed relief to commuters.
The new government will have to take concrete steps to address issues of personal security especially in the areas where Bedouins, other Israeli Arabs, and farmers live. The discovery of natural gas in Israel has already begun to lower energy costs and narrow the gap in the cost of living between Israel and other countries. The import reforms instituted by the previous government will continue to impact the economy and lower prices in the future.
One aspect of Israeli society that is often discussed is the growth of the ultra-Orthodox population and its potential long-term effects. However, what is often overlooked is the increasing participation of ultra-Orthodox women in the high-tech industry. This is a positive development that has the potential to drive economic growth and improve social integration.
According to left-wing paranoia, which exaggerates anxiety about rivals from within and underplays fear of enemies from outside, LGBT people will be returned to the closet, the state will be silent on Shabbat, and everyone will be required to pray in schools. In practice, however, there is no doubt that the status quo will be maintained, and by its nature it always creeps a little more in the secular direction. This is because freedom has an advantage over restriction. Regarding public transportation on Shabbat, in recent years progress has been made in this area. However, a real breakthrough in the matter will probably only come with the arrival of the autonomous vehicle, which is a bit further off than we once imagined.
The Islamist party, under the leadership of Mansor Abbas, was not wiped out after its cooperation with the coalition, but actually increased its number of seats. This is great news for the future of the state's relations with the Arabs of Israel.
Despite the US administration's distaste for the new Israeli government, on the most important issue – standing up to Iran – reality pushes America to align with Israel. This is because of Iran's refusal to return to the nuclear deal, the brutal suppression of protests against the regime, and the Iranian-Russian alliance. The appetite of the mainstream in the Democratic Party to reconcile with Iran has waned, and this is another illusion of foreign policy during the Obama era that has faded away.
The war in Ukraine has shaken the Western world from its complacent belief that the end of history has arrived. The new perspective may help it to understand Israel better. While the new government's public image may suffer, the strengthened alliance between the West and Israel will be a positive development in the long run. The end of history is a fallacy, and we should never forget that violence and war are always lurking just beneath the surface.