One of the greats of previous generations said: What is the difference between the homeowner chasing the mouse and the cat pouncing on the mouse? Apparently, they are both doing the same thing - trying to catch the mouse.
But there is a profound difference between them: the homeowner wants no mice in the house, while the cat wants as many mice as possible, so that he can chase them.
A similar difference exists between several factors that point to distortions and omissions and things that require correction. Some truly and sincerely desire to bring a cure to the fracture and a solution to the problem, and some act like a cat that is happy about the "mouse" that has fallen into its paws.
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The second type is not truly interested in solving the problem, because then an important flag on which political capital can be made would fall from their hands.
What happened in the war?
It is easy to see who belongs to the first group and who to the second. The former get into the thick of it, try to study the issue in all its aspects, do not make sweeping accusations, and certainly do not use expressions that incite hatred and hostility. The other elements do exactly the opposite, because they are not really interested in the correction and the solution, but rather in the ability to score points in their circles of support.
Unfortunately, the second type is increasingly taking over our discourse. Everything is becoming blatant, political, biased by interests, serving agendas. Surveys are conducted, examining what consolidates the camp more against the opponent, what incites more hatred, what is more absorbed by populist public opinion. It is clear that no correction or construction can grow from such a discourse.
Look at what happened to the reserve soldiers during the war. People from diverse and opposing political and ideological camps found themselves in the same tank or armored personnel carrier and in the same tent. They began to talk to each other, and suddenly it became clear that there were no sons of light versus sons of darkness, good versus evil. Everyone has things that hurt them and the anxieties that fill their hearts.
Suddenly, one began to be attentive to the pain of the other, to his world of values, to his vision of the desired image of society in Israel. It turned out that in most things the gap is not so great, and there is much in common beyond what separates us. We are all Jews, the Land of Israel is dear to all of us, tradition is important to us, and we all want to live in a prosperous and safe country.
The cynicism is transparent.
Across the country, meetings are held between groups in Israeli society to address controversial issues. The discourse there is completely different from the sterile debates in the media and the political arena. People come with a desire to listen and understand, to find solutions, to bridge gaps, and when that is the starting point – they manage to get closer and connect.
It's hard to see how the rules of the game can be changed in the political and media arena. There they will continue to seek out extremism, turn every match into an incendiary one, take things out of context, and bash each other. And perhaps if the public stops cooperating with this behavior, and makes it clear that it fully understands the cynicism guiding the moves - something will change there too.
We have realized in recent months how essential unity is to our very existence. Let us cultivate it and preserve it, and together we will prevail.
