Country before party: Israel’s opposition must not fail this moment

A Jewish-Arab governing partnership could signal that Israel's future will not be entrusted indefinitely to those who exploit fear, deepen mistrust, and portray equality as a threat.

Its first obligation would be to govern: defend democratic institutions, uphold the rule of law, protect all citizens, and begin restoring public confidence in the state.

This would require difficult compromises. Every prospective partner would have to distinguish between principles that protect the country and positions maintained chiefly to satisfy a political constituency.

No party should be asked to surrender its identity. Every party should recognize that governing a fractured country requires cooperation with people whose identity, history, and convictions differ from its own.

The alternative is not ideological purity without consequences. It is political paralysis with potentially disastrous consequences.

If the opposition cannot reach an agreement, another election becomes possible. Its outcome would not guarantee a stronger mandate for change. Netanyahu could gain another opportunity to assemble a majority, while the country loses more time to uncertainty and division.

The opposition must not confuse denying Netanyahu a majority at the ballot box with ending his rule. Only forming a viable alternative government can accomplish that.

Nor should its leaders imagine that voters will readily forgive a failure born of exclusion or personal rivalry. Citizens who voted for change deserve more than another demonstration of why their leaders cannot work together.

Israel cannot afford to make perpetual crisis its system of government.

Defending Israel must never require defending every action of its government. Opposition to Netanyahu's policies is not opposition to Israel's existence.

What Israel needs now is neither another savior nor another campaign. It needs courageous, visionary leaders willing to accept the discipline of shared responsibility.

Eisenkot, the leader of the largest opposition party, and the other opposition leaders must begin serious negotiations with the Arab parties now, even though some pledged during their campaign not to join a coalition government that would include the Arab parties. They must agree on a workable program, establish mutual obligations, and resist the temptation to sacrifice the possible to the politically comfortable.