The civil revolt in the Haredi sector over opening schools and their quasi-autonomous conduct throughout the coronavirus pandemic has led many, including political and opinion leaders, to toy with the idea of cantonization; that is to say, designated autonomies within Israel.
The seculars in Tel Aviv, the Haredim in Jerusalem, the right-wingers in Judea and Samaria, and so on and so forth. Beyond the impracticability of this idea, the very discussion is dangerous. The fruitless discourse surrounding separate autonomies only encourages Israeli tribalism. Instead, what Israeli society actually needs is unity and conciliation. This is the only way forward for Israel.
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Even before the pandemic, Israeli society was divided. The clashes between religion and state, tribalism, radicalization in certain circles; all these created a reality in which many people view coexistence as unviable. Due to these difficulties and numerous swirling issues, legislation and policy in Israel are becoming localized. The clearest example is the matter of religion and state. For instance, despite the nationwide prohibition on public transportation on Shabbat, several cities in the country's center operate public transportation for their residents. In the "state of Tel Aviv," the municipality announced a registry for gay and lesbian couples.
Life under the pandemic has sharpened these social rifts. The demonstrations outside the Prime Minister's Residence in Jerusalem and mainly the acute impasse with the Haredi public has led many to ponder the notion of dividing Israel into separate autonomous cantons.
Each canton, per this idea, would have the autonomy to manage its own affairs when broad agreement cannot be reached, and Israeli citizens will be able to choose their place of residence in accordance with their values, beliefs and lifestyles. Liberal-seculars will live in the canton of Tel Aviv, Haredim in the canton of Jerusalem and other Haredi cities, and traditional Israelis will live in cities befitting their worldviews. Each autonomy would legislate its own local laws,. The Knesset, meanwhile, would legislate more broadly on matters of state, which would not fall under the purview of the cantons.
This idea might seem enchanting at first glance. How much can we argue over basic rights in the eyes of a secular person, which the state denies, or the state's interference in Haredi schools that oppose certain subjects? In one fell swoop, we could get rid of all these disputes and acrimony. Looking a little closer, however, shows why this is a false spell. On the practical level, it simply wouldn't work in a state where half the population lives in a narrow stretch of land between Hadera and Gedera. A country where members of the different "tribes" live in the same or adjacent neighborhoods or in the same cities. A country whose challenges require numerous shared resources – cannot be divided into cantons. Even the coronavirus pandemic has shown that without a blanket national policy, it is all but impossible to meet a challenge of this magnitude.
But the main consideration for discarding this idea is an ethical one. History teaches us that the Jewish state began crumbling with the split between Judea and Israel. After many long years in the Diaspora, splintering into tribes again would be a dangerous historical development. Additionally, the ability of the state and society to exist depends on fundamental solidarity among its citizens. Dividing Israel into specifically characterized autonomies will erode all that remains of the solidarity and unity we still have here.
Israeli tribalism is a disaster and the pandemic has illustrated that partitioning Israel into communities with different values – ultimately makes it impossible to implement policy and even costs lives. The discussion about Israel's cantonization, beyond being a pipe dream, only exacerbates the schisms. To bridge the tremendous gaps and mend the social wounds even somewhat, we must start – right now and all the more vigorously – implementing a unifying, curative dialogue to temper tribalism and forge a broad social contract that will allow us to live together in a united Israel.
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