TEHRAN – Upon Hamas’s surprise operation on October 7, Israeli officials were confronted with a significant revelation, laying bare entrenched internal conflicts that have pervaded the political landscape of the Zionist regime in recent years.

The Zionists claim that internal protests, strikes, and conflicts within security and military institutions for more than six months influenced Hamas’s decision to launch Operation Al-Aqsa Storm.

The roots of these conflicts in the past five years lie in the social schisms within the diverse society of Israel. The newfound complexities can be traced to the issues resulting from the migration of various ethnicities and cultures to the occupied territories. This aspect is evident even in the discourse of the regime’s leaders when referring to the Israeli population.

The Zionist regime is deemed not only politically, legally, and foundationally illegitimate and deceptive but also lacks the sociological coordinates of a proper society. Established on false claims of Zionist ideals and “the Promised Land” from the early 1900s to the 1950s, it prompted the migration of numerous Jews worldwide, encompassing diverse races, ideologies, and religions, to the occupied territories with unfounded promises. The migration of approximately 2 million Jews in recent decades has deepened this identity crisis and hindered the formation of a unified culture.

These diverse identities manifest in four minority groups, each comprising 20 to 30 percent of the Israeli population. 

Firstly, Israeli Arabs, somewhat akin to Palestinians in the lands of 1948, have seen their population grow, transforming them into a significant and influential party in the Knesset. Their support was crucial for the previous coalition government (Bennett and Lapid’s).

Secondly, the ultra-Orthodox Jews, often referred to in Hebrew as Haredim, had a substantial population growth with a shift from 4 percent at the regime’s formation to around 20 percent. The overgrowth of this group along with their non-participation in the military, has widened the internal divisions.

Thirdly, the secular right-leaning party that has been wielding considerable power in recent decades. They now face challenges from religious groups and Arabs.

The fourth group consists of nationalist leftists, once dominant in the early to mid-20th century but now a minority that continues to exert influence.

These four minorities are currently embroiled in serious legal and identity disputes over the future political landscape and laws of the Zionist regime. Netanyahu’s hardline cabinet, the judicial reform law, the deadlock in the Supreme Court, and more all trace back to the significant social divides mentioned. This divide is likely to become even more serious and profound in Israel after the October 7 conflict.

MAS/PA