Gantz's Gamble

Just as after the two earlier votes over the past year, no clear (or even likely) winner has emerged from this month’s Israeli election. Any number of possible outcomes remain in play.

But whatever happens, a Rubicon has been crossed with the decision by the Blue and White group to open talks with the Joint List.

A motley crew of Islamists, Arab nationalists and communists, it remains almost inconceivable that the Joint List would be part of any putative government.

But even by opening negotiations with them over support for a minority government, Benny Gantz’s Blue and White has changed Israeli politics forever. It has been a shibboleth of the Jewish state that Arab nationalists could never be involved in the formation of an Israeli government.

The odds remain heavily against the talks leading even to mere support  — not least because the Arab nationalist Balad party is ideologically opposed to supporting any Zionist government.

But by Blue and White even contemplating relying on their support, all sorts of possibilities have been opened up in future.

Real openness

Whatever de facto red lines there may be in Israeli politics, Israeli society — and culture — is a very different matter.

This week, we profile Dr Raquel Ukeles,  the curator of the National Library of Israel’s world-class collection of Islamic manuscripts and treasures. Dr Ukeles’s passion is sharing the beauty of her collection with Israelis.

Her work may seem unusual — but it is yet another demonstration of the richness and openness of Israeli society.