47 more days, and then a long journey
A personal-political column that begins with moving apartments and develops into a sharp response to Haaretz's investigation into Mohammed bin Salman's warning to Netanyahu before October 7. The author, identifying as a liberal, analyzes three scenarios for the upcoming elections: a tie, a sweeping victory for the Eisenkot bloc, or a sweeping victory for the Netanyahu bloc. He expresses concern about a change in Israel's democratic character in the event of a right-wing victory, and warns of a brain drain and economic deterioration, but also conveys a cautious horizon.
A personal-political column by an author identifying as a liberal, beginning with a description of moving apartments and thoughts on long-term renting, but interrupted by Haaretz's investigation by Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yuval. The investigation reveals that about a week and a half before October 7, 2023, UAE ruler Mohammed bin Salman warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a phone call that Yahya Sinwar was planning a major move against Israel and could ignite the region, and that Netanyahu did nothing with the warning (the claim is denied by the Prime Minister). The author expresses rage and a sense of abandonment, stating that this is the most basic breach of trust. From there, he moves to an analysis of three possible scenarios for the upcoming elections, in 47 days: a tie leading to a transitional government with limited damage but economic paralysis; a sweeping victory for the Gadi Eisenkot bloc; or a sweeping victory for the Netanyahu bloc. The author expresses grave concern about a right-wing victory, which he says could change Israel's democratic character, accelerate a brain drain, and lead to economic deterioration. However, he notes signs of change: disgust with Netanyahu and Smotrich, a new Haredi party including a woman, and an assessment that the probability of a sweeping right-wing victory is low. He concludes with a call to ensure that after these elections there will be more elections, and that rehabilitation will be a Sisyphean and long work.