Israel is a strong country and strategically speaking, we are better off than ever. Nevertheless, threats to Israel's security remain. The crisis with Iran could lead to an all-out confrontation with its emissaries, which would present a large-scale threat to Israel's homefront and infrastructure. Israel is also in a state of violent and prolonged conflict with the Palestinians, one that will not be possible to solve in the foreseeable future. Therefore, it must be prepared for war.
The most important challenge to any Israeli government is maintaining social cohesion, and society's willingness to stand united in the face of difficult situations our violent surroundings could create. This unity is also of the utmost importance in times of calm, as it plays an important role in maintaining deterrence. Deterrence is established through not only military strength but also a people's level of determination to act in times of need, and above all, its ability to withstand suffering both on the frontlines and at home.
Because peace is not around the corner, the ability in a time of crisis to present an effective and agreed-upon response is influenced to a great extent by societal cohesion. A deep societal or political rift, or a disconnect between the political and military echelon or between these two echelons and the public atmosphere, serves to harm the implementation of national policies and spur the enemy to increase its efforts to disrupt Israel's moves, undermines the authority of Israel's political echelon and contributes to the erosion of the homefront's ability to endure under fire.
The lessons of the past decades should serve as a warning against adventurous military or political moves, which alongside fleeting diplomatic gains, caused a deep schism in the fabric of society and social fabric and resulted in scars that have yet to heal. For example, the decision to embark on the 1982 Lebanon War was at first popular, but support for the conflict quickly diminished. And from the start, 1993 Oslo Accords created a deep rift between the Left and the Right.
It should be noted that the political rifts in Israeli society have not overcome the sense of unity, and we must nurture it. As for the security aspect, overwhelming public support for Operation Protective Edge in the summer of 2014 serves as proof that there is national cohesion, in particular in situations where Israel is seen as having no other choice. It is important to ensure this remains the case, even at the price of political restraint and limitations on the flow of information about the fighting, in order to establish legitimacy for our efforts at home and in the international arena.
Given the ugly election campaign ahead of us, the party that emerges victorious should aspire to form as broad a coalition as possible. Likewise, the appointed government should act to fortify cohesion by adopting a sober public discourse and avoiding the demonization of political opponents. As for U.S. President Donald Trump's forthcoming peace plan, we must focus on preserving national cohesion and preserving matters about which there is a consensus. We must avoid unilateral withdrawals and/or disputed diplomatic steps, in particular when the return on such moves is questionable at best. We must be cautious when weighing the use of force, which should be seen as only having been taken in the absence of any other choice, given the security threat to the state. Israel should adopt a policy that sees us rein in construction in Judea and Samaria while preserving the existing territorial presence, which a majority of Israelis approve of. In contrast, we must expand construction in the area around the capital in order to deepen Israel's hold on the Greater Jerusalem area, which is at the heart of this consensus. Maintaining the cohesion of the Jewish people in their land is the loftiest objective.
