A nation confident in its identity does not need to deny the identity of others

Professor Guy Hochman argues in an opinion piece that public discourse in Israel has become racist, stemming from perceptions that view war and isolation as a national destiny. He criticizes the debate over identities and calls for recognizing that Arab citizens are not enemies by virtue of their identity alone.

Professor Guy Hochman, an expert in behavioral economics and decision-making at Reichman University, argues in an opinion piece that public discourse in Israel has become more racist than ever, stemming from worldviews that see war and isolation as a national destiny. He criticizes the debate over 'whether it's better to sit with Arabs or with Haredim' and states that dismissing a person based solely on their identity is racism, even when directed at Haredim. Hochman analyzes the mottos 'We will forever live by the sword' and 'A people that dwells alone' as self-fulfilling prophecies that distance the country from the Zionist vision. He quotes Professor Gilad Hirschberger, an expert in threat perception, who argues that until both sides recognize that the other is here to stay, there will be no peace. The article calls for recognizing that Arab citizens are not enemies by virtue of their identity and recalls the Declaration of Independence, which called on Arab citizens to participate in building the state on the basis of equal citizenship.