As Israel fights its most challenging war in decades, whispers of reviving judicial reform are beginning to echo through the Knesset's corridors.
Remember the scenes from last summer (and that pre-dates the horrific and devastating war we are currently fighting) - hundreds of thousands in the streets, elite military units threatening to stay home, tech companies moving their money offshore. Now imagine that same domestic chaos while our soldiers are fighting in Gaza and facing threats from multiple fronts.
Our emergency unity government is already walking a tightrope, balancing delicate coalition interests while managing a complex military campaign.
Those suggesting this moment of crisis as an opportunity to push through controversial reforms are playing a dangerous game. Yes, the public is distracted by war. Yes, opposition might be muted by national security concerns. But that's precisely why it would be so damaging to Israel's democratic fabric.
Consider our military needs right now. We rely heavily on reservists - the same people who led last year's protests. How many of these personnel might step back at a time when we desperately need every trained soldier? Can we afford to risk our operational capabilities for a political agenda?
The international community is watching closely. Israel needs unwavering support from its allies as it confronts Hamas and faces threats from Hezbollah. Reviving a controversial reform that many Western partners viewed as democratic backsliding would strain these critical relationships exactly when we need them most.
Then there's our war-strained economy. The shekel is already under pressure, and the tech sector - Israel's economic engine - is nervous. Add the uncertainty of judicial reform, the increasing cost of living and the fact that many people you see walking on the streets are one Xanax away from a nervous breakdown.
Some might argue that wartime unity makes this the perfect moment for reform - when the nation is more likely to fall in line behind government decisions. This is dangerously misguided thinking. Using the fog of war to advance controversial domestic agendas would not only be ethically questionable but could fracture the very unity keeping us strong.
The stakes are too high. We cannot afford to open another front - this time within our own society. The war in Gaza demands our complete focus, resources, and unity. Anything that threatens these priorities is both ill-timed; and a strategic threat to national security.
Let's be honest: judicial reform was contentious enough during peacetime. Reviving it during war would be nothing less than playing Russian roulette with Israel's future. Some battles can wait. This is one of them.
And we're not even talking about the fact that it's far from impossible that our enemeies saw the internal unrest in Israel. Because after a year of turmoil, Hamas launched one of the most devastating attacks in Israel's history.
It's not the dark ages, when no one can see what the other person (or country) is doing. Our enemies are watching and waiting.
Now is the not the time.
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