By Rabbi Dow Marmur
JERUSALEM –What some seem to regard as bad news for Israel may, in fact, bode well for its future. I’m referring to the uproar in the country and abroad following the very public criticism by Yuval Diskin, the former head of internal security, when he spoke of the “messianic” scaremongering about Iran by the government, particularly by the prime minister and the minister of defense.
Diskin isn’t alone. The former Mossad head Meir Dagan had said something similar before and has now come out in support of Diskin. Whereas the sharp criticism by these two former spy chiefs – who must know more about what’s happening in and around Iran than anybody else – may be unprofessional, they’re also extremely noteworthy, bolstered by the support of former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
Remarkably, though couched in much more careful language, Chief of Staff Benny Ganz seems to be on the same page. He, too, has said that the Iranians are more prudent and rational than many assume and, therefore, implied that they don’t contemplate a nuclear attack. It sounds like covert criticism of the politicians.
We may combine this with the view, I think articulated by Dagan, that, though an attack on Iranian nuclear installations may delay things for a while, it’ll most certainly persuade it to go in for nuclear weapons. Therefore, in addition to the militarily risky and morally dubious plan, such an attack would achieve the opposite to what’s intended, which is probably the most compelling reason for not embarking on it.
As I’m about to leave Jerusalem and close down the stream of reflections on life in Israel to which you’ve been subjected, I’d like to believe that Israel won’t engage in a war that Iran can’t lose even if Israel with US support wins the battles. This, then, is the first item of good news in this fragmentary summary.
Perhaps the spy chiefs and the politicians are really in cahoots playing good cop and bad cop in order to keep the rest of the world vigilant. But more likely, the politicians surmise that keeping the country afraid will be good for a right-wing government which likes to present itself as strong and resolute. But, as Israelis preparing to go to the polls ahead of schedule and though Likud will continue to dominate and probably even make gains, more moderate parties – notably Kadima under Shaul Mofaz and Yair Lapid’s new party Atid – will want to join the next government, perhaps to replace Shas and other extremists. Let this be a second item of good news.
Likud and its right-wing allies thrive on fostering a ghetto mentality. The myth is that we’re alone and under siege, but unlike in the past we’ll fight and survive. But spy chiefs, generals and hopefully also voters know not to compare Iran to Nazi Germany; not only Elie Wiesel but also Shimon Peres have said so in public. It’s possible that enough Israelis will realize that they’re citizens of a sovereign modern state and don’t live in a ghetto. This, then, is a third sign of good news as a reaction against the malaise in contemporary Israel reflected in that many of its citizens haven’t yet adjusted to the freedom (for all) and responsibility (also toward minorities) that sovereignty demands.
Diminishing risks of attacking Iran, a growing possibility of the next government being more moderate than the present, and the ever stronger realization that Israel must cease to behave as a victim are three very hopeful signs. I’m looking forward to more.
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Rabbi Marmur is spiritual leader emeritus of Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto. Now dividing his time between Canada and Israel, he may be contacted at dow.marmur@sdjewishworld.com