During a period of intense terrorism in Israel, children underwent training to protect themselves from potential terrorist attacks at school. The country faced numerous suicide bombings in buses and restaurants, leading to a climate of fear and sadness. However, despite the severity of the situation, it was not considered an existential war for Israel. The attacks impacted daily life and the nation's happiness, but never posed a threat to its existence. The long-term effects of this period are reflected in the political leanings of the generation that grew up during that time. In contrast, the current situation in Israel is described as constituting an existential threat.
Over the 25 years he's lived in Israel, author Daniel Gordis of Shalem College has seen many chapters of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, beginning with the Second Intifada that followed the Oslo Accords. Listen as he and EconTalk's Russ Roberts discuss why Hamas's massacre of October 7th is different and is an existential threat to Israel. They also speak about why Israelis are demanding a different response to Hamas than they have in the past, and how and why this war will change Israel and the Jewish people.