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KAHNTENTIONS

KAHNTENTIONS is a blog post written by Gilbert N. Kahn, Professor of Political Science at Kean University in Union, New Jersey. Beginning in 2011 KAHNTENTIONS was hosted by the New Jersey Jewish News which recently ceased written publication. KAHNTENTIONS presents an open and intellectually honest analysis of issues facing the United States, Israel, as well as Jews world-wide.

BY GILBERT N. KAHN

"These are the times that try men's souls."

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Can Israel Remain a Democracy?


Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu may be about to learn the essence of what a democracy is all about. The Israeli people appear to no longer be willing to tolerate the abject callousness and haughtiness with which the Netanyahu Government continues to prosecute the war against Hamas.


Bibi and his clique of followers have become transparent in their arrogant disregard of the will of a large segment of the people. The political leadership has become totally insensitive to the dissenting voice in the nation. It must be understood that the Netanyahu Government already has damaged severely Israel’s place in the community of nations and its relationship with the West and the U.S. in particular. Netanyahu has challenged Israel’s relationship with Jews throughout the Diaspora. He has also dramatically undermined Israel’s indigenous future economic growth and development with this on-going war.   


The events of the past 24 hours, as suggested by Israeli Defense Forces, report that the bodies of the six hostages which were retrieved had been shot in the head by Hamas very recently; presumably, as the IDF began moving closer to where they were being held. If indeed this is further corroborated, then the country has clear evidence that a deal must be made with Hamas now, regardless of the cost, or else all remaining living hostages will also be slaughtered.  


Netanyahu must accept the clear evidence that persisting in his defined war aims will never bring home any more living hostages. Alternatively, the Israeli people need to demand that all opposition political leaders unite for an immediate change in the political leadership of the county. It is also time for the Charedi (ultra-Orthodox) parties to vote like their expressed priority in demanding the release of the captured prisoners as the Government’s policy, or else they should rise up and oppose Netanyahu.


Prime Minister Netanyahu’s conduct of the war against Hamas following the terrorists tragic, horrific slaughter of innocent Jews on October 7th clearly has run its course. His defined military goals have largely—though not entirely—been achieved. If Bibi persists in trying to reach unachievable strategic goals or post-war status, he will have the blood of the hostages on his hands, without the military ends he has demanded.


No one is justifying the brutal behavior of the Hamas terrorists. Their inhumane attack on October 7th against innocent men, women, children, elderly, concert attendees, and others was horrific. Since then, the deaths and injury of thousands of Palestinians have not bought the hostages home nor given Israel the victory it had pledged to achieve. Seeing what Hamas is doing even to the six hostages whose bodies were retrieved today, does not bode well for what the consequences will be to the remaining hostages, if and when the IDF would be close to recapturing them.  Any sense that Hamas will suddenly opt for humane treatment of the remaining hostages is foolhardy. Only an immediate end to the hostilities can produce even a possibility that some of the remaining hostages may be returned alive.


If the Israeli people succeed with their announced blockade of streets, national strike, and work-stoppage in their demand to bring home the hostages, then Israel as a democracy will have spoken.  If, however, the mass protests and national strike do not succeed in turning around the political leadership, then the future of Israel’s democracy will be severely challenged.

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