Israeli Prime Ministers are overloaded. But they must
not neglect their responsibility to strengthen and deepen the
Jewish-Zionist nature of Israel as the State of the Jewish People. This is
all the more essential as Israel is on a slippery slope towards
“normalization” and losing its Jewish-Zionist uniqueness. Governmental
action is crucial under Israeli conditions in shaping the future.
Therefore, the Prime Minister should allocate a significant portion of his
attention to reversing negative trends and assuring the special
Jewish-Zionist nature of Israel. This requires the Prime Minister to avoid
exclusive preoccupation with the Peace Process and security issues,
however important. Also, he should adopt a long-range perspective and set
up suitable policy planning staff units, sorely missing at present.
To fulfill his future-weaving role, the Prime
Minister should undertake eight main tasks: (1) Some action-oriented
contemplation, with the help of suitable advisors, to clarify to himself
the meanings of Israel becoming more of a Jewish-Zionist state, while
being also democratic and modern. (2) Crystallization of strong
Jewish-Zionist political will, with cooperation between main
Jewish-Zionist parties and social actors. (3) Strengthening of the
Jewish-Zionist self-identify of Jews in Israel and of the Jewish society
in Israel as a whole. (4) Additional taking into account of Jewish-Zionist
values in Israeli statecraft and critical choices. (5) Significantly
increasing Aliya to Israel, including a mega-project to bring about
massive immigration from the well-to-do Diaspora, including from the USA.
(6) Reversing negative demographic in Israel threatening to reduce the
proportion of Jews in the population. (7) Developing a holistic policy
towards the minorities, which assures their individual and communal rights
but prevents undermining of the overall Jewish-Zionist nature of Israel as
the State of the Jewish People. And (8) Integrating Israel fully into the
Jewish People, including participation of representatives of the Diaspora
in crucial Israeli decisions and initiating a Jewish People policy.
The mix and timing of tasks must be adjusted to
opportunities and situations. But, full awareness by the Prime Minister of
his responsibility for assuring and deepening the Jewish-Zionist nature of
Israel and the giving of high priority to tasks doing so is imperative.
