In the face of Israel's leadership deeply divided over the war, is there any hope?

As rifts among Israel leaders are made public, we can only continue to pray for them

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JERUSALEM, ISRAEL – Amid the ongoing war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, once again, Israel’s leadership has shown itself deeply divided – this time, over the strategy of war.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, facing opposition from within his own party, confronted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a live broadcast and appealed directly to public opinion to win the argument.

Foregoing internal and secret discussions of this strategic topic, Gallant publicized the deep rifts within the country’s leadership in an unprecedented way, while also alleging Netanyahu’s corruption and base motivations.

A public attack on the prime minister during wartime, as justified as its arguments may be, displays internal rifts to our enemies and is the opposite of the united leadership the country’s citizens expect - and deserve.

Sadly, all of this isn’t shocking and is a reflection of Israel’s lamentable political climate over the past few years.

In the substantive debate over the ‘day after’ in the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu’s arguments sound convincing, but so do Gallant’s.

We, the editors of ALL ISRAEL NEWS, like the average citizen, lack access to the data on the ground and the comprehensive information needed to fully evaluate the situation to reach an informed conclusion.

Even among politicians and army officials with such access, there are objective disagreements in assessing the situation.

However, especially in wartime, the citizens of Israel deserve leaders who hash out their differences in private, and present a path forward, whatever the assessment of any given situation may be.

After the outbreak of the war, the social divide that had been growing for years disappeared in large parts of society, and most importantly, within the fighting units of the army, giving way to a healing unity.

Still, over the seven months of fighting, tensions have begun to reemerge behind the frontlines.

Violent protests have arisen around the question of how to return the 128 hostages remaining in captivity, in combination with the old anti-government and anti-Netanyahu demonstrations.

Protests and intense discussions have also emerged around the frustration of the large number of residents still evacuated from their homes in northern Israel, as well as the question of what should happen with Gaza after the war.

Many of Israel’s citizens have lost trust in the country’s leaders on both sides of the political divide.

Along with that, many have lost hope that Israel will ever live in peace.

Meanwhile, Hamas rejoices: This is their desired outcome. They seek to further the rift in the social fabric within Israel.

As they want to escalate the international outrage, they do everything to prolong the war, using civilian casualties and humanitarian disasters to their ends.

However, Hamas’ joy is premature.

With the words of the prophet Micah, we can confidently say:

“Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.” (Micah 7:8)

According to the Bible, our task in this situation is to pray for our country’s leaders.

Looking at the many open debates in our society, we may not know who is right or to what extent – but we know what God expects of us in this situation.

“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1. Timothy 2:1-4)

In this spirit and all humility, we put our trust in God and pray that He may steer our leaders on the right path.

On the many questions at hand that will determine Israel’s future, no ready answers may appear.

Still, we do not lose hope, because we know God will not abandon Israel. In His plan, a seemingly hopeless situation has its place, even if we do not understand it now.

Just as He fulfilled His promise to gather the Jewish people again in their ancestral land after exile, He will also fulfill His promise of restoring and renewing Israel.

He brings us through the fire, refining us like silver and testing us like gold, as the prophet Zechariah says before he continues:

“They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’; And each one will say, ‘The LORD is my God’.” (Zechariah 13:9)