Abbas does not threaten Israel — he threatens the far-right government | Avi Gil

The Channel 14 investigation, "The Polite Jihad," points to the gap between the moderate messages that Mansour Abbas voices in Hebrew and the harsh things he says in Arabic. The conclusion to which the creators of the investigation lead: Abbas is a sophisticated "Trojan horse" integrating into state institutions in order to impose Islam upon them. This is, of course, a wild exaggeration intended to strike fear. In practice, Abbas does not threaten Israel. He threatens the far-right government. The contradictions in his behavior are not proof of deception, but proof that the positive change in Jewish-Arab relations in Israel has already begun.

The late Professor Martin Seliger distinguished between the core of an ideology and the operative shell in which political movements deal with the constraints of reality. When reality forces a person to act against their beliefs, a dissonance is created. To reduce it, leaders tend to deny contradictions, postpone decisions, behave with ambiguity, and speak a different language to different audiences. The change appears first in action, in the shell, and only after years does it seep into the core and receive ideological recognition.

In the world where Abbas grew up, Islamic identity is intertwined with a broad political vision, and therefore he will not declare that he has separated from the vision on which he was raised. But his practical conduct is fundamentally different: he runs in elections, accepts the rules of the parliamentary game, conducts negotiations with Zionist parties, seeks to join a coalition, and acts to bring achievements to the Arab public in a political and non-violent way.

Right-wing figures warn against his patient cunning. I suggest a "cunning" Jewish response: to utilize his integration to shape a reality where moderation is more profitable than confrontation. Instead of asking if Abbas has already become a Zionist, one should ask how to extend the period in which he and his supporters operate within the democratic system and grant it legitimacy in the eyes of their people. As time passes, institutions become established.

Israel's leaders must contribute to shaping a reality in which Israeli Arabs are integrated into the systems of government. The message "Israel is a strong Jewish state and cannot be defeated" is necessary, but not sufficient. Economic, social, and political moves must be added that create a stable interest in moderation and integration. Progress toward resolving the conflict with the Palestinians will help thaw the tensions between Arabs and Jews within Israel.

Whoever closes off in advance any chance for the integration of Israeli Arabs condemns their country to an endless internal conflict. If we are wise enough to encourage the phenomenon of Mansour Abbas, to reward moderate conduct, and to protect it, the core ideological principles will eventually change, not only in official papers but also in the hearts of people. Such a reality will grow not because we will convince Abbas in a theological debate, but because life itself — with the encouragement of smart Israeli policy — will lead him, his movement, and his successors to a place that gives hope to both peoples.

The author is the former Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and author of the book "The Leviathan's Hopes - A Deep State Story."