Civil War in Israel: An Inevitable Destiny?

In the 1970s, Israeli director Uri Zohar presented a humorous short film in which two Arab men stood on a beach in Palestine, hurling insults at a boat carrying Jewish immigrants from Russia that was heading their way. These Russian immigrants then stood on the same beach, insulting another approaching boat carrying immigrants from Poland. This same pattern was repeated, with each group of immigrants insulting those behind them, just as the Poles mocked the Germans and vice versa. Finally, the Germans hurled insults at a boat carrying immigrants from North Africa.

Ethnic display
This short film could, although perhaps not the director's intention, acknowledge Arab existence in this region. But what Zohar seems to really want to emphasize is that this kind of conflict, this rejection of the other, is a characteristic shared by all countries of immigration. It is also the story of America, Australia, and Canada: nations built on the promise of dream lands, but also on illusion, colonialism, and the fabrication of a fictitious identity.

Israeli writer Uri Avnery has described this phenomenon in Israel as strange. He raises the question of how Israel, a state founded on a Jewish national ideology, can afford to divide its own ethnic components when they are all Jewish! Yet history and sociology show that the more diverse a society is, the more difficult it becomes to keep it united. Each group wants to defend its own interests and identities, and as unity loses its strength, subordinate identities take over, increasing the risk of internal divisions and rebellions.

This phenomenon is well illustrated by the incident that occurred during an Israeli Cabinet meeting on March 23, 2025, where a verbal and physical exchange took place between National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Ronen Bar, the former director of the Shin Bet. This was not simply a personal conflict, but a sign of the intensifying struggle between the far right and the security institutions seeking to preserve their independence.

A phenomenon accentuated by the “flood”
The attack of October 7, 2023, clearly demonstrated the State of Israel's inability to ensure the security and stability of its citizens. Israel's defense doctrine, centered on preemptive defense and attacks on enemy territory, failed to protect civilians. This day shattered the myth of security in Israel, sending a message that military force alone cannot guarantee stability and that a just peace solution is essential.

The impact on military institutions
Moreover, the events have revealed a growing rift within the Israeli military. The attack on the Sde Taiman military base by Israeli extremists showed that these groups now view the law and the state as subordinate to their own interpretation of values. This sense of superiority could eventually spread to other branches of the military.

The Deep Roots of the Internal Israeli Conflict
Current tensions cannot be separated from Israel's past. The dominance of the Ashkenazi elite over the country's politics and culture, despite their relatively small numbers, is one of the root causes of internal divisions. The historical divide between Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jews persists, as does the divide between religious and secular Jews, which originated in the 18th century and continues to influence Israeli society.

An uncertain future
Despite growing internal tensions, it is difficult to predict a civil war in Israel. The divisions are clear, but the country remains largely stable, albeit tense. However, with an increasingly armed and violent society, the risk of internal violence could increase in the absence of a unified and consensual leadership.

This translation and paraphrase reflect the complexity of the current situation in Israel, while