For months, the state of Israel was more divided than ever. The government was trying to pass a bill in parliament to drastically overhaul the judicial system. There was considerable opposition to the government’s plan, primarily from the left-wing public, but support from the right-wing public as well.
The country was divided down the middle, and despite President Isaac Herzog’s attempts to unite the two parties, the government was determined to proceed and the opposition determined to oppose. There have been large-scale protests, with weekly anti-government demonstrations held for months, and government supporters occasionally rallying behind proposed measures.
Politicians, financial institutions, business and industry leaders, retired civil servants and military officers also took part, as did Israeli Defense Forces reservists, some of whom said they would not serve if called to duty. Israel was not alone in its opposition to the government’s legal reforms. Many world leaders also expressed concern. It is no exaggeration to say that a real crisis had arrived.
Everything changed in an instant on the Sabbath of October 7, the Jewish festival of Simchat Torah. Almost 50 years after the surprise attack that started the Yom Kippur War, on what is now known as the “Dark Sabbath,” the terrorist organization Hamas once again struck Israel by surprise.
Hamas is no doubt pleased that Israel appears to be divided and arguing internally, and commits heinous acts against a virtually defenseless population while Israeli leaders take their eye off the ball. He took advantage of the opportunity to commit a heinous crime.
Hamas’ horrific attack, which killed more than 1,200 Israeli civilians, kidnapped hundreds more, and committed home invasions, rapes and massacres on a scale not seen since the dark days of the Holocaust, has left Israel thinking. It gave me an opportunity. Regarding matters other than judicial reform. Ironically, this was completely unfair.
And what is the result? The people of Israel were united like never before. left and right. both young and old. Religious and secular alike were targeted by Hamas, and all rallied around the cause of defending Israel, defeating Hamas, and bringing back the kidnapped hostages. The war continues and it is hoped that its objectives will be achieved soon. But it is hoped that the new unity of the Israeli people will teach us lessons about how to deal with conflicts within Israel, including legal issues, and that we will never be so divided again.
While the war rages on and the people of Israel and Gaza suffer, Israel’s flora, fauna, birds, and wildlife continue to live largely undisturbed. Just like every fall and spring, in recent months 500 million birds (comprising 550 species) have passed through Israeli airspace, unaware of the horrifying events taking place beneath their flight paths.
Birds migrate from the cold winter environments of northern Europe to the warmer climates of Africa to ensure sufficient food. Then, in the spring, they reverse course and head north back to Europe. Whether you’re flying from Europe to Africa or vice versa, it’s safer to fly over land than by sea. Israel, the land bridge between Europe and Africa, is therefore on their preferred route.
What Israel can learn from nature
And we, the people of Israel, can learn a lot from the nature that surrounds us in our beloved country. On a recent cool morning, I stopped to watch the starlings sing. It was fascinating to watch hundreds or thousands of starlings fly in formation, creating ever-changing works of art in the sky. It was mesmerizing to watch the flock of birds spinning around as her one solid form. They made synchronized swimming groups and Air Force aerobatic teams look ordinary, hissing and circling, ducking and diving, twisting and turning, and improbably avoiding collisions. The main reason for this murmuring phenomenon is to confuse predators who are literally fascinated by what they see (as I was) and cannot choose which bird to target. Therefore, the herd is numerically safe. In the photo, you can see the black kite flying around and within range of the stream, but failing to catch a single starling for its dinner.
By working together to confuse predators, the starlings can stay safe. They move in coordination with each other to share resources, form unified groups, and resist attacks from predatory hawks and kites. There is much we in Israel can learn from them. Only together can we win against this despicable terrorism. “Be’yachad nenatze’ach” (“Together we will win”) was a slogan that became synonymous with the war. But we need to do more than win the war on terror. It is our hope and prayer that once the war ends, Israel and its neighbors will be able to work together for the greater good of all.
When I walk in the woods near where I live, I often see cattle egrets riding on the backs of cows. Birds collect insects from cows, and in doing so they obtain a rich source of food. This is a symbiotic relationship that benefits both parties. Herons ensure food sources, and cows eliminate nuisance insects.
A few months ago, two young people were killed in a natural disaster during a flash flood near Eilat in southern Israel. This was the heartbreaking death of 24-year-old Mayan Athol and her 17-year-old sister Sahar, who lived in Tiberias, just 100 meters from my home. Shortly before his car was swept away by the rapids, Maayan wrote in a social media post about the deaths of three sets of brothers at the hands of terrorists, including the Dee sisters, who were killed along with his mother. was also included). He writes: “When will everyone realize that we are all brothers here?”
Learn from birds and animals how we must protect ourselves. But more importantly, we need to find ways to work together with our neighbors so we can all win. We are all brothers and sisters here. ■
The author is a nature photographer and blogger. His website is https://natureofisrael.blogspot.com/.