From COVID to October 7: Are we in seven bad years?
The article examines the public perception that Israel has been in a continuous series of crises since 2020, from COVID through the cost of living crisis to October 7. The author asks whether this constitutes 'seven bad years' and analyzes the impact of the accumulation of events on the sense of stability and collective memory, while noting that there have also been good moments alongside the crises.
The article deals with the widespread feeling among the Israeli public that the country has been in an unbroken series of crises since 2020. The author reviews the main events: the COVID-19 pandemic that brought lockdowns and isolations, the cost of living crisis, political instability, and finally the October 7 attack and the war that followed. The article asks whether this period can be defined as 'seven bad years,' noting that the human brain tends to remember unusual events more than quiet periods, and that constant exposure to news via the phone amplifies the sense of instability. However, the author emphasizes that alongside the crises there were also good moments and a return to routine, and concludes on an optimistic note that 90% of this period is already behind us.