Israel in a state of severe attention deficit: The tsunami from the USA that we do not see | Lilach Sigan

There will come a time when we look back and wonder how on earth this happened. Just as we wonder today why European Jews did not see the catastrophe approaching in the late 1930s, future generations will ask how we allowed October 7 to happen and how we failed to see what was happening to the Jewish people three years later. How is it possible that within the Jewish state we were busy with such trivialities?

I asked Gemini to scan the main Israeli media outlets to identify the five most discussed topics of the week. In fifth place were clashes in the Haredi sector, fourth were the Likud primaries, third was the cabinet dispute over Donald Trump's plan for the "demilitarization of Gaza," and second were the zigzags in US-Iran relations. And in first place? The dismissal of Major General Avi Blot by Defense Minister Israel Katz in a live broadcast.

To summarize: we are a country with a severe attention deficit. Our "public discourse" is merely a restless distraction. By fighting within our own "puddle," we fail to notice the tsunami rising in the ocean beyond it.

Let's step out of the Israeli echo chamber. The NYPD reported a sharp spike in antisemitic incidents: Jews, who make up 10% of the city's population, were the target of 70% of hate crimes last month. This is barely mentioned even in Israeli media. Meanwhile, the political landscape in the US is shifting: in the Michigan Democratic primaries, Abdul El-Sayed, whose views on Israel are extremely hostile, won. America is changing before our eyes, while we are busy not with realpolitik, but with "reality-politik."

America in the feed

Israel is unique in that it faces a dual threat: internal polarization and external existential dangers. CNN commentator Van Jones compared the current political transformation in the US to how Netflix replaced Blockbuster. The old model, relying on massive budgets and consultants, is giving way to a new one where those who work directly with the audience through TikTok and field operations win. We, who depend on America's mercy, have yet to realize this revolution.

Look at the interview Hamas spokesperson Ghazi Hamad gave to British presenter Piers Morgan. Hamad denied the atrocities of October 7, calling them "mistakes." Support for Palestinians in the West is sky-high, and Hamas is successfully manipulating public opinion, while Israel, despite having all the intelligence, lacks the necessary US backing to eliminate the terrorists for good.

Everyone is gaslighting

We live in a deceptive echo chamber. When we argue with such crazy fervor, we lose the ability to convey a coherent message to the world. The show surrounding Avi Blot's dismissal is just an example of politicians working for the camera rather than for results. Spreading hatred has become the main product of Israeli politics. Media outlets have fallen in love with this narrative, making politicians immune to criticism.

This madness has gripped everyone: news anchors substitute terms, calling bills by provocative names, and struggle to separate news from their own opinions. This is destructive for a society based on mutual responsibility.

Those who will decide the elections

Who should vote for those who understand that the illusions of the left are dangerous, and that October 7 opened our eyes to reality? Who understands that Israel's international standing is critical, and the current government is incapable of restoring the country's image in the West? There is a "Right-Lite" sector—people who do not want hatred but demand security. They are the ones who will decide the elections.

Do not look at the masses clinging to their political blocks. Support parties that strive to create a mixed government—parties like those of Benny Gantz, Hili Tropper, or Yoaz Hendel. Even if they seem small, they are the ones who can change the situation. We must give a voice to this stream, not despair, and insist on what we truly believe in.