A) The Daze of Realism
Throughout the war, it was claimed repeatedly that the Right had no strategy and that it was not concerned with 'The Day After'. Behind these elusive words was hidden the same, familiar ideology – that there is only one possible diplomatic move: a Palestinian partner. No event on earth can change that, so it would appear. It is always possible to look for a new Palestinian representative and claim that this time it will work, we must try. This is an old strategy used by the Left, the world over; when the idea fails again and again, the foregone conclusion will be that they didn't do it right, and to look for another leader to try again.
The most common defense for repeatedly insisting on this path, despite everything we've been through since Oslo until today, is 'Realism'. In other words, there is no choice between options. Rather, this is the only option that exists in the entire world. This isn't just a persuasion or branding tactic, this is the actual self-image: the Right is rooted in a delusional ideology, while the Left is rooted in pragmatism and realism.
It is therefore no surprise that the most common argument against the plan for the outmigration of Gazans is that it is 'unrealistic'.
B) What is hiding behind the concept of 'Realism'?
Peeking out from under the arguments of 'realism', one can sense the fear of the possibility that it might, in fact, be realistic. The arguments of ‘unrealistic’ are made in the hope that they will become a self-fulfilling oppositional prophecy. Because if it turns out that this is indeed a realistic option, it will instantly disintegrate the whole worldview of the 'Palestinian Partner', built up over decades (some say even from the beginning of the Hapoalim movement), for which we have paid in blood, for which we have given up our national identity, and in which hundreds of billions of dollars have been invested. As in the story about the rooster that continued to crow all night long, even after realizing that it must have confused sunrise and sunset.
Something deep within the structure of this concept escapes the possibility that the Jewish national identity is the solution and not the problem. Their way of dealing with this escape is to say that identity is a fantasy, that victory over evil is an illusion, that the dream of generations is an illusion. If it's an illusion, then they don't have to deal with their internal conflict over it. Instead, one can simply get hung up on the problem of realism: the Right is not realistic, we have to take the world's opinion into consideration, the US, and on and on…
The internal conflict of the Oslo crowd with their own identity, clothed in claims of realism, causes them to forcefully hold the Gazans inside destroyed confines of Gaza and impose on them the only realistic vision that only the people of Oslo know. Everyone has to prove the concept of the Palestinian partner, at any cost – even the partner himself… The value of freedom of movement has suddenly disappeared, the right to immigrate, suddenly disappeared as well (only immigration into Israel is acceptable, and it is forbidden to be forced to leave… to emigrate out). Fundamental rights have disappeared. Of course, because it's not realistic.
Gazans really have to recognize Gaza as their eternal homeland, otherwise the concept of the people of Oslo will collapse… Realism will collapse!
But something has suddenly changed. In the US, a new administration has arisen with the idea that there is nothing more realistic than prosperity and security rooted in national identity, a deep connection to the Bible and divine providence. But the broken record continues: not only is the Israeli Right delusional and messianict; the world is not realistic, Trump is not realistic, the greatest power in the world is not realistic.
Reality itself is not real. The only real entity in the world is the people of Oslo. The Oslo ideologues’ cover of realism has raised mold and a stench and become a caricature of itself.
C) Collapse into Ego
In the consciousness of the Oslo worldview, the only known reality is what takes place inside your ego. Your plans for inventing a new world are the only possible reality. That's why they never get tired of giving a far-fetched prediction of reality, failing to realize, and repeating it over and over again. It's not a bug, it's a feature of this way of thinking. To give it up, you have to give up the whole 'Oslo' way of thinking.
Judaism, on the other hand, teaches that reality is always bigger than you are. We are just a link in a chain that started long before us and will continue long after us. And if we tune in, we might even merit to pave a path forward. An ancient path. New. Eternal. Realistic. Sublime. Pragmatic. Because there is nothing more realistic than an ancient Jewish vision of national life.
D) The Realism of the Ancient Vision
It is not yet clear where reality will take us in the coming months and years. We are not arrogant, but pray that we will have help from above. The obstacles are many. But we have something on which to support our hands and actions: a vision as ancient as human civilization that only gets better with time, and which is more realistic than any ‘new world’ spin of a culture cut off from its roots.
Realism will become redeemed from this culture that cut itself off from its roots.
The inventors of the new world are becoming more and more delusional, and in contrast, loyalty to ourselves and adherence to our path are becoming more realistic than ever.
Some will continue with the 'unrealistic' mantra long after reality changes, much to their chagrin. Nothing realistic will change their mind about reality.
We will pray that they will be able to resolve their old conflict with their identity, and that they will also be able to open up to the ancient vision of the people of Israel, of which there is no greater, nor more realistic.
