The late British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said it all in a speech about terrorism to the American Bar Association 37 years ago. "Through calculated savagery, his [the terrorist's] aim is to induce fear in the hearts of people. And weariness towards resistance … They see how acts of violence and horror dominate the newspaper columns and television screens of the free world. They see how that coverage creates a natural wave of sympathy for the victims and pressure to end their plight no matter what the consequence."
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In our case, this phenomenon has recently been given a perverted expression: The murder of Jews followed by psychological pressure through planned riots on the Temple mount turn the conscience of some Israelis against themselves. But the problem is not in fact the public that withstands the calculated pressure exerted by Palestinian terrorist groups during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The problem is that there is a government in Israel. In the days when we were shocked by the murderous attacks in Tel Aviv and Beersheba, there were still commentators who dared to write about "the leadership challenge." "Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has met with furious reactions that sometimes verge on incitement from the public while at the same time contending with a coalition with which it is nearly impossible to make dramatic decisions without leading to its dissolution," one prominent news site wrote.
The conclusion of the last month is that on the principal issue of security, the government under Bennett's and Foreign Minister and Prime Minister-designate's leadership is not built to lead Israeli policy and make tough decisions. The right thing to do in the diplomatic-security situation Israel now faces is to establish a government under the Likud. At the same time as the Ramadan riots, an intimidation campaign claiming the Right will be taken over by hawkish Knesset members Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir. This is an attempt to divert attention by falsely attributing the cause of the violence triggering public anxiety. Instead of Hamas, they raise the alarm over the radical Right. Anything to avoid mentioning the violent Islamist elements and the Ra'am party the government is dependent on.
These difficult feelings about the leadership structure are also reflected in the polls. A recent Israel Hayom poll found that 29% of respondents would like to head to elections, and 27% would like another government in the framework of the current Knesset. In total, 56% opposed the current government. Just 31% support the continued existence of the government as is. But if public opinion does not impact the leaders, the loss of their Knesset majority and the suspension of the Ra'am party's membership in the coalition indicate Bennett has lost the basis for his government's existence. Around one-half of his small political faction has lost faith in its path.
The role of an alternative government is to treat missile terror and riots in Jerusalem in the context of Iran and its emissaries. An operation to take out Hamas' military force must be brought to the agenda. The Gaza Strip is challenging Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem. A Hamas defeat in Gaza would be a significant blow to Iran.
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