"Dayenu": 2026 Elections Force Us to Compromise

Rabbi Dr. Daniel Hartman calls for adopting the 'Dayenu' approach in response to the 2026 election results, instead of each camp striving for 'total victory.' He asks what the red lines of Israeli society are regarding Arabs, Haredim, and coalition partners.

Rabbi Dr. Daniel Hartman, president of the Hartman Institute, writes an opinion column on ynet following the 2026 elections. He argues that the aspiration for 'total victory' by each political camp is dangerous, and proposes adopting the 'Dayenu' approach from the Passover Haggadah as a model for accepting partial compromises. Hartman asks questions about Israeli society's red lines: what is demanded of Arab-Palestinian citizens, how to relate to the exemption from service for Haredim, and whether it is possible to sit in a coalition with those who oppose the two-state solution. He notes that Benjamin Netanyahu has crossed many of his red lines, but a million Israelis still trust him. The article calls for redesigning red lines instead of holding sacred positions.