The social contract that binds Israeli society—a fragile agreement between disparate groups to coexist under the rule of law—is currently being subjected to a stress test of unprecedented proportions. As the fires of sectarianism and ideological violence are stoked from the fringes, the current government, rather than acting as a stabilizing force, appears to be acting as a silent—and sometimes overt—enabler. From the burned-out shells of businesses in the West Bank to the intimidated patrons of a café in the heart of Jerusalem, the message is clear: the state is losing its monopoly on order, and in its place, a culture of impunity is rising.

Violence in the West Bank: A Calculated Campaign

This past weekend, we were reminded once again of the visceral cost of this drift. Near Nablus, a Palestinian restaurant was reportedly raided, robbed, and set ablaze—a calculated act of destruction that leaves behind more than just financial loss, estimated at NIS 1 million. It is a blow to the fundamental principles of individual property and security that we claim to uphold. This was not........

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