Israel needs tikkun olam, not silence about its problems - opinion

In the modern digital era, revealing Israel's shortcomings through media outlets is increasingly perceived as treason, although there are exceptions. One such instance occurred during the Lavon affair in 1954, where Egyptian Jews were allegedly recruited to plant bombs in Western-owned properties, intending for blame to fall on the Muslim Brotherhood.

Another instance took place during the Yom Kippur War when Israel's captured soldiers were subjected to torture in Syria, and photographs of their mistreatment were distributed to foreign press members for publication abroad before being republished in Israel. The long-defunct Haolam Hazeh publication was notorious for exposing political and social scandals and was often the target of libel charges.

In 1982, its editor, Uri Avnery, became the first Israeli journalist to interview PLO chairman Yasser Arafat.

Today, it is challenging to maintain secrecy due to the abundance of digital publications, social media, webinars, and podcasts, as well as the incorporation of artificial intelligence. Some individuals still believe that it is treason to publish negative information about Israel in the Israeli media, despite mainstream media regularly reporting on both the good and bad aspects of the country.

Various religious and secular leaders are discussing the concept of tikkun olam, which originates from the Talmud and refers to the idea of repairing the world. Nonetheless, the question remains: how can one practice tikkun olam while refusing to acknowledge the issues that require repair?

A prominent example is the denial of Jewish terrorism in certain circles, which is deeply rooted in racism. Despite Arabs being accused of terrorism, political leaders often counter claims of racism or apartheid by pointing out the coexistence of Jews and Arabs in various aspects of daily life. However, certain areas in Israel exhibit discrimination against Arabs, such as difficulty in obtaining building permits, which leads to illegal construction and subsequent demolitions by authorities or the IDF.

This situation warrants public scrutiny and potentially harms those attempting to delegitimize Israel.

Meetings and negotiations with adversaries are considered treason by ultra-right-wing individuals. However, as Yitzhak Rabin emphasized, peace is achieved through negotiations with enemies. Peace movement activists, particularly those associated with Breaking the Silence, are often labeled as traitors for exposing human rights violations committed by certain military units or individuals in their interactions with Palestinians.

Holocaust survivor and author Elie Wiesel warned about the dangers of indifference, asserting that it enables oppressors to continue causing suffering. Israel has proven capable of overcoming significant challenges; hence, it is perplexing as to why it struggles to address the unlawful acts of masked individuals.

Tikkun olam plays a crucial role in discrediting discredited political parties and their members. The term "leftist" has become a derogatory label under the current administration, with political leaders labeled as leftists if they disagree with the present administration. This unfair characterization should not be applied to Avigdor Liberman, Gadi Eisenkot, or Yair Golan, who have all displayed heroism, despite their political affiliations.

Right-wing individuals often use the term "leftist" as if it were synonymous with treason, disregarding the fact that left-wing politicians and military officers have also played essential roles in Israel's history. True tikkun olam would involve a collaborative effort from various segments of Israeli society, including religious, secular, Jews, Arabs, Druze, and Circassians, to address social injustices through rational and respectful discussions that are streamed publicly for transparency.