Let's start with a kind word about Yair Lapid. This is the second time that in the midst of a bitter and stormy polemic that is tearing the nation apart, when grandiose slogans are thrown into the air and learned arguments are made, he suddenly stands up and speaks the simple truth.
This was after the expulsion of ten thousand Jews from the Gaza Strip.
While everyone is arguing about the logic of the deportation, its usefulness, the risks arising from it, etc., Lapid wrote a long article in which he laid the painful truth on the table.
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""Teach them a lesson""
""It was never related to the Palestinians, to demographics, to the desire for a peace settlement, to the relative exhaustion of the IDF, or to any of the explanations that were given to us (and hidden again and again)," Lapid wrote. "The motive was completely different. It lies in the violation of the delicate balance that existed between settler society and Israeli society.".
He then tries to explain in beautiful words the 'anger' that has accumulated in what he defines as 'Israeli society' over the settlers who are rushing to leadership positions, climbing the IDF command ladder, penetrating the media, 'infiltrating' into intermediate positions in government ministries, and so on. The purpose of the disengagement, he says, was "to teach them a lesson in modesty and perhaps also in democracy.".
Unfortunately, he is right.
The overwhelming support of powerful and influential elements in the Israeli public for the disengagement process (contrary to all the warnings, which later came true one by one) stemmed from the desire to hit the settlers and 'teach them a lesson.'.
The price was paid by ten thousand men, women, and children, whose lives were ruined.
This week, in the midst of the storm of the Haredi event in Afula, when beautiful and learned slogans are floating in the air, Lapid comes and writes the simple truth.
Well, he wraps it in sophisticated arguments, but behind all the beautiful words there is a clear and concise message - it's not that the Haredim are not entitled to a separate event, according to their faith and lifestyle. They certainly deserve one event out of 360 performances given to the general public.
But now the opportunity arose to strike at the Haredim and retaliate against them for the supermarket law and other struggles over issues of religion and state.
In other words, he also admits that there is no justice here and no practical reason that justifies preventing a musical event from being attended by the Haredi audience. It's all hand-wringing and a battleground of 'them' and 'us' – and that the Haredi women and their children in Afula will pay the price.
Recruited lawyers
It's good that the truth has been told, because at least now we know what lies ahead.
All legal arguments are nothing more than a tool designed to hit the Haredim and make their lives miserable. It is no coincidence that 37 law professors joined forces and sent a letter to the Attorney General asking him not to allow separate events to be held. They, who hold individual freedom and minority rights at their throats, are now using a pressure machine to deny these rights to Haredim Jews.
Because the whole point is to hit the Haredim, 'teach a lesson' to the settlers, and persecute elected officials who hold traditional and conservative positions, and those who oppose the retreats and concessions.
In the name of this war, the legal system will be mobilized, the 'foundation' will pour in funds, women's lobbies will wave impressive slogans, and the media will cheer with battle cries.
This is the truth: it's just war.
