Israel’s foundational covenants have been broken; beware the breaking of the most important covenant of all.
By Gil Troy, published in Makor Rishon.
and here is it in English: MAKOR RISHON, 15.10.2026
In Hebrew: https://www.makorrishon.co.il/news/politcal/article/381195
The question in these elections is not only “who will form the government,” but “who will restore trust, responsibility, and social solidarity?” | Seven covenants should guide us at the ballot box — to ensure that the next political victory also shores up Israeli society overall.
No matter who forms the next government, first and foremost, Israel must rebuild the trust, sense of responsibility, and solidarity that have long united Israel. What we vote for is far more important than who we vote for. The next government must heal Israel.
Growing up in America, I appreciated from afar Religious Zionism’s essential role in preserving the seven vital covenants that enable Israel to function as a Jewish and democratic state, fulfilling the Zionist dream. When we made Aliyah, our children learned in their religious high schools and in Bnei Akiva that they were Israeli society’s “bridge-builders.” What’s happening to our country? What happened to us?
Seven foundational covenants lie at the heart of Israel's identity:
1. The Covenant of Personal Security
Even those who approve of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s management of the war since the Simchat Torah massacre must acknowledge a simple fact: the Hamas bloodbath shattered the trust most Israelis had in the government’s and the IDF's ability to protect them. It was a colossal failure. That devastating disappointment has been exacerbated by Cabinet ministers dodging the most basic elements of governing responsibility, alongside their repeated insistence on scapegoating others.
2. The Covenant of Shared Burden
Tragically, many reservists and their families feel betrayed, even while bearing the burden of defending us all so heroically. Admittedly, over decades, every major political party sanctioned this imbalance. Prioritizing political considerations, they kept tolerating mass ultra-Orthodox draft evasion. But this is the government that chose to pooh-pooh the growing—and justified—frustration, precisely when the military's needs surged following the disaster.
3. The Covenant of Zionist Morality
Israel has always taken pride in a military, society, and polity that upheld Jewish ethics and democratic values, even while managing complex challenges. The scandal of violence committed by extremist Jews in Judea and Samaria is not just a question of numbers; the greater outrage is how little has been done to stop them. Years of this government’s indulgence, to preserve its fragile coalition, effectively encouraged immoral, illegal, and disgraceful behavior.
At the opposite end of the political spectrum, violent protests, harassing ministers at their homes, and libeling our holy soldiers are also deeply concerning. All these actions fuel fears that extremists on both sides will keep intensifying divisions while silencing Israel’s moral and silenced majority.
4. The Covenant of Human Dignity
Constantly mocking, humiliating, and delegitimizing political rivals fuels tension while undermining Israeli society. Citizens must act responsibly, while leaders from all factions must change their tone. Responding with “whataboutism” is not an answer. When the government repeatedly justifies its own failures by pointing to the opposition’s excesses, it diminishes the Prime Minister's stature and abdicates its duty to foster mutual respect and substantive, constructive debate.
Explaining God's anger at Moses and Aaron for sins that seem downright trivial, Nahmanides (Ramban) teaches a lesson that feels incredibly relevant today: “And the great sin of Moses and Aaron... was because the eyes of all Israel were upon them, and all the people would learn from all their leaders’ deeds.” Those sitting at the top of the pyramid know that all their actions are scrutinized—and that their actions serve as examples to the public.
5. The Covenant of Shared Citizenship
Mainstreaming Itamar Ben-Gvir years ago was depraved enough. But our leaders' silence as their colleagues verbally assail Arab Israelis—who are equal citizens in this country—harms us all.
If every cititzen’s equality, liberty, and dignity are not protected equally, then no one is truly safe. The moment our fundamental rights become dependent on government approval or on the results of the latest poll, we all become hostages to politics. A Jewish and democratic state cannot tolerate such a breach.
6. The Covenant of the Jewish People
Zionism defines Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people. Even those of us who frequently criticize those Diaspora Jews who distance themselves from Israel, regret the deliberate neglect of many Jewish communities globally —especially large segments of American Jewry.
Being so dismissive toward Diaspora Jews does not just harm them; it harms every Israeli. We are stronger, and our Zionist vision is clearer, when we stand tall alongside our Jewish brothers and sisters worldwide.
7. The Covenant of Competence
Finally, there is a lack of proper governance across the board —as reflected in municipal corruption that spans political affiliations. Nevertheless, here too, the ruling party bears a special responsibility. This government keeps undermining its own ability to govern. Those right-wingers most committed to a measured, but meaningful judicial reform should be the first to object to how this government turned a complex technical issue into a tribal battering ram— thus alienating half the country, while disappointing the other half.
The ongoing, arrogant, assault on good governance and accountability, on so many fronts, culminated with the Simchat Torah fiasco. This must stop. Now.
If we all apply these seven covenants as benchmarks when entering the voting booth, we just might change the public discourse while returning to Religious Zionism’s foundational values. And beware: If Israel is stuck once again with a government so hostile to so many of its citizens and so consistently incompetent, it will endanger the eighth covenant—the most important of all, and the most quintessentially Zionist -- our covenant of hope, Hatikvah.
Professor. Senior Research Fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI), historian, and Zionist thinker. Author of nine books on the history of the American presidency and nine books on modern Zionism.