The echo of anti-aircraft defenses intercepting Palestinian rockets falling from Gaza and Lebanon has gone from being a nuisance to a warning. Since Saturday, when this new war broke out, the explosions that can be heard in Tel-Aviv, Jerusalem and other cities in the country announce that life in Israel will not be the same again. It cannot be, because there is no turning back. The war heralds the birth of a new Israel, but it remains to be seen whether or not it will be faithful to the principles of its founders.
This unknown, added to the anguish over the spilled blood and the anxiety that emanates from all vulnerability, dominated the conversation that this correspondent had yesterday at noon on the terrace of the La Cantina restaurant, with businessman Daniel Benaim, the technology consultant Keren Eisen and producer Natalie Kerpel.
"It's my way of fighting," said Joe Marciano, owner of La Cantina, one of the few establishments that were open in an empty and depressed Tel-Aviv. In his attitude there was very little defiance and a lot of pragmatism.
"It's sad to say, but war brings out the best in us," said Natalie, and she was right. At the break of dawn the captain of the El Al plane covering the route from Barcelona assured that the company will not stop flying as long as there are Israelis who want to return home.
As most of the airlines canceled their flights, the airport was almost empty. No one at passport control reserved for foreigners. It has never been easier to enter Israel.
However, there was a queue to take the taxi. Vehicles were lacking, because many Israelis prefer not to leave their homes, including taxi drivers. The line was long, but quiet. Not a trace of the Israelis' usual nervousness when they have to wait. No one crowded or raised their voices.
"At least, the war reminds us of good manners", intervened Daniel, half joking half seriously, before admitting that the blow had been hard and the recovery will be even more so.
“How long did it take us to get over the Yom Kippur War?” Keren asked, and she answered herself. "Fifty years have passed and I think we still haven't overcome it".
Israel defeated Egypt and Syria in that 1973 war, but the country was transformed. Labour, which had been the dominant political force since independence in 1948, gave way to Conservative governments. Safety was a priority. The hawks dominated the doves. Religious extremism maintained its intolerance and increased its political weight. Greater Israel was spoken of more frequently, a country that occupied the ancient biblical territories, especially Judea and Samaria, the current West Bank. The Palestinians resorted to terrorism. All peace initiatives failed, because the weight of the extremists was too strong. It cost Prime Minister Rabin his life and, to a large extent, President Arafat as well.
Peace was considered impossible and Israel got used to living with its original sin. There would be no homeland for the Palestinians.
"The war has returned at the worst time". Daniel hides his frustration. We find the answers to explain the internal rift, the country's derivateocratic and authoritarian nature, the decline of the armed forces and the bad strategic decisions, such as that of strengthening the detachments in the West Bank at the expense of weakening the Gaza front.
The expansion of the settlements and the persecution of the Jewish settlers on their Palestinian neighbors have increased the violence. In other words, the priorities of the Israeli Government – to expand the domain of the West Bank – have prevailed over the general interest of protecting the country.
We run out of wine glasses. The thunder of the explosions warn us that we are in an impasse.
"We can't continue like this", admits Daniel. "We need a new country, an Israel that recovers the values that brought us here".
We agree that it will take a generation, perhaps two, for Israel to regain the centrality of secularism and the rule of law, for the Palestinians to renounce terrorism and develop the structures of a prosperous state. "Behind every tragedy there is a great opportunity - says Daniel. What is difficult is knowing how to take advantage of it".
