Fast Draw – The Israeli Crisis

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It’s all connected. The High Court of Justice ordered the state to stop transferring funds to Haredi Jews who don’t follow the law and enlist in the IDF. An IDF soldier was killed in a friendly fire incident in the south, probably due to disregard of proper procedures.

So the High Court had enough of the state disregarding its own laws, and we have IDF soldiers disregarding procedures for opening fire. Investigation into the incident is still ongoing, but if you take earlier friendly fire incidents into account there seems to be a problem here.

What’s the problem, you ask? Israel, inch by inch, is descending into chaos. Decisions are not followed through, beginning with the government and ending with the smallest of organizations. It’s all done offhandedly: Highway exits get built and canceled before going operational, buildings begin to crumble even before the tenants move in.

What does this have to do with security? I’ll tell you what, and let’s start from the less significant cases. I’ve mentioned the weapons stolen from military bases before – nothing has changed. I’ve mentioned the poor conditions at the gates of many IDF bases. I’ve mentioned the random and illogical process of privatizing the military industries. It’s all connected.

IHLS – Israel Homeland Security

There’s an atmosphere of indecision, and when decisions are made they aren’t followed through. The State Comptroller frequently discusses these issues, both in the public reports and in the classified ones. So, you think anyone cares? Someone reads the reports, puts them away and its back to business as usual.

So no wonder the High Court had enough. If you think anything will change, though, you’re wrong, and that’s exactly the problem. They’ll find a way to get the money through, eventually. No wonder the heads of the Haredi community responded to the High Court decision with a nod and a smile.

So, the sad conclusion: Decisions are made, the IDF has procedures for every possible scenario, but the atmosphere itself is that of carelessness, “everything will work out in the end.” Very Israeli, true, but also very dangerous. When citizens see how Knesset members and cabinet ministers behave there’s no reason to expect anything to change. Oh, wait, I’m sorry, there will be change, a change for the worst.

Tell me who your leaders are (their political views don’t matter) and I’ll tell you your future. Israel is in a constant crisis from a security viewpoint. The conditions I described above are dangerous for any state, even to those which haven’t experienced war in centuries. In Israel it’s a matter of life and death.