In the State of Israel, where we were raised and educated, there was once a broad national consensus. It was understood that the foundation of our state’s existence in this region is rooted in the Declaration of Independence. This consensus maintained a space of agreement that excluded from debate anything or anyone threatening the preservation of Israel as both a Jewish and democratic state.
What did the Declaration of Independence, signed by leaders from across the political spectrum, embody? It carried the resolve of “never again” – a commitment that Israel must be a homeland for all Jews. It pledged to develop the land for the benefit of all its inhabitants and to be founded on the principles of liberty, justice, and peace. The Declaration promised complete social and political equality, ensuring freedom of religion, conscience, language, education, and culture. It also committed to protecting the holy places of all religions.
This foundation was the bedrock of national consensus for years. While people agreed to debate and discuss various issues, these basic principles were accepted as guiding lines, almost like a de facto constitution for Israel.
In recent years, it appears that the Israeli government is systematically dismantling these principles, one by one, with deliberate intent. Clause by clause, a new, different declaration seems to be taking shape – one that erases the democratic elements and leaves only the Jewish identity, but in a much narrower interpretation.
I know you’ll say that I belong to a different generation, that I’m no longer part of the national consensus, and likely never will be again. But I’ve lived here all my life and am one of the many bricks laid to build this country. I was educated here and have educated hundreds of youngsters through youth movements. I served as a public servant and was part of Rabin’s government, a government that consistently emphasized that our strength lies in our unity, even when it stood outside the consensus. We believed we were one people, one society, with shared goals.
Despite our deep disagreements, I believed that even our political opponents would respect the fundamental rules. I trusted that they wouldn’t attempt to reshape the state in a different spirit, and certainly not cut the very branches we’re sitting on: the IDF, the entire security system, the police, the law enforcement system, and the principles of proper governance – basic elements of our democracy.
In the early days after October 7th, it briefly seemed that, out of the horror, we had rediscovered our true selves. “Brothers in Arms” and religious organizations, the kibbutz movement and development towns, Jews and Arabs – everyone united to rescue, assist, adopt, and host those in need. People gave their time and money to support the displaced. I witnessed soldiers and commanders fully committed, stepping up and giving of themselves, often at their own expense. I wholeheartedly believed that the true spirit of the people of Israel had been revived, rising up in defiance of the attempts at dismantling from above.
And now, after losing 1,700 of our brave citizens and soldiers, with another ten thousand physically injured and countless more emotionally scarred, with many still in captivity due to the failures and policies of this government, it’s clear that we are no longer on the same side. It’s not just the Declaration of Independence that has been altered without consultation; it’s the entire country.
Without hesitation, they continue the governmental coup that led us to disaster. They keep targeting IDF commanders, dismantling the police, and viewing judges – who protect them from prosecution in The Hague – as enemies. They even denigrate the families of the hostages, treating them as nothing more than a “nuisance.”
Imagine this picture in your mind: the south is scorched, the north is ablaze and abandoned, and in Jerusalem, the members of the government and their emissaries sit, ensuring that whatever remains is burned to the ground. We are all conquered. We are all hostages. Why? Because, in their view, there is no longer a State of Israel – at least not one that has the right to exist without them. They are determined to make sure it reflects their image – or it won’t exist at all.
This is the essence of the new declaration they are crafting. And this is the first line of our struggle. We must not allow this to happen. Because if they succeed, they may remain, but we will no longer have a country.
Shimon Sheves was General Director of the Prime Minister’s office under the late Yizhak Rabin. He is currently the Founder and Chairman of HolistiCyber, which provides nation-state level cyber security solution.
