Yet again, for the fourth time in a span of two years, Israelis will have to go back to the voting stations.
The older among us will certainly recall election campaigns characterized by heated ideological disputes between left and right. Between the peace vision championed by the Left, whereby peace with the Palestinians can only be possible only if we retreat to 1967 borders, and the Right's vision about our right to settle the entire land of our forefathers; between a socialist, closed market economy dominated by the Histadrut labor federation and government, and a free-market economy wonderfully capitalizing on the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation; between the First Israel of old-guard elites with free rein to accumulate wealth, and the downtrodden Second Israel which had to fight for its rights and status in Israeli society.
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The Oslo Accords and their tragic results killed the dove of peace. The majority of Israelis lost their perilous naiveté, as if the quarrel with the Palestinians is over the 1967 borders.
Not one Israeli citizen longs for the days of socialist Mapai and its descendants now that freedom and liberty beat in our hearts. Israel's economic, technological and scientific clout is a source of tremendous pride. The Left's vision for peace disintegrated, while the Right's vision of peace in exchange for peace shines our path forward as the list of countries waiting in line to normalize relations with us keeps getting longer.
In light of the ideological left's demise, any debate over the vision has been put to rest. The left-wing parties struggle to pass the electoral threshold. Blue and White is falling apart at the seams. Benny Gantz has churned out a new slogan that Benjamin Netanyahu is focused solely on his trial, while every honest citizen looks around and wonders how the prime minister has the time to care about his trial when the entire burden of managing the country is on his shoulders.
Under these circumstances, the public debate has turned personal. Members of Knesset don't have a problem jumping from party to party, like songbirds migrating from nest to nest, bereft of any forethought or refinement, and lacking even a basic ethical sense of commitment. Their only consideration is survival as MKs and cashing their handsome monthly paychecks. Senior army officers partake in this dog and pony show in the hope of being branded an up and coming star. No one cares about their views, and I doubt if they themselves can explain them.
Sadly, this awful phenomenon of ideological alienation has permeated right-wing circles. Avigdor Lieberman has first rights in this regard. The terminal disease of "Bibiphobia" has led to a chain of infections. Gideon Sa'ar speaks to the public from welcoming news studios, but the only promise he makes and the only hope he offers, is to shun Netanyahu. No mention of a vision or path, just "Trust me to govern."
It is important, therefore, for Israeli citizens to understand that existential challenges are not behind us. I pray for the day where we can choose a prime minister based on his acting skills, sense of humor, hairstyle and chumminess with the press. Until that day comes, however, Israelis still have to make crucial decisions about the fate of the country.
The upcoming election requires a definitive statement from the people. The challenges are immense and cannot be met without a clear, overwhelming decision.
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