It's time to break free from collective blindness
Dr. Michael Milshtein's opinion piece analyzes Israeli discourse on the Palestinian issue, warning against collective blindness, illusions, and false promises by decision-makers. The author argues that the Israeli public does not question the rulings of leaders, is trapped in a bubble of belief in the righteousness of the path, and ignores the severe damage to Israel's international standing and the dangers of continued control of the territories.
Dr. Michael Milshtein, a senior researcher at the Dayan Center, analyzes in an opinion piece the Israeli discourse on the Palestinian issue. He argues that the Israeli public suffers from "collective blindness" and does not question the rulings of decision-makers, trapped in a bubble of belief in the righteousness of the path. The author criticizes the inflated promises and slogans that have led to this, and warns against illusions such as Jordanian control of the territories, "voluntary" emigration, or the establishment of a Palestinian state in Sinai. According to him, Israel is in a rift between being Jewish and democratic, while entrenching institutionalized discrimination and using religious terms. Milshtein warns of the loss of global patience towards Israel, noting that its international standing rests on the unstable support of Trump. He calls on the public to question every statement by statesmen on the Palestinian issue, and to understand that there are no magic solutions, but rather to choose the lesser evil among bad options. The worthy goal, he says, is physical separation between the two peoples while preserving vital security interests.