The shrinking of the Labor Party is an evolutionary process that has little to do with the behavior of its elected officials. It is part of the postmodern processes taking place around the world, particularly in Israeli society. Therefore, remaining in the opposition in order to "rehabilitate the party" would not have reversed the shrinkage process, just as being in the coalition will not substantially change the trend toward disappearance (or "burial," as the opponents of joining the coalition are calling it).

All the states that gained their independence in the 20th century did so when their people was on their land, even when that independence was accompanied by wars of liberation (or civil war). The unique achievement of the Jewish people is that its national movement, Zionism, managed to persuade several hundred thousand people to return to Zion from distant places where their ancestors had lived for centuries. Another achievement, also unique: The new immigrants succeeded in creating educational, industrial, agricultural and housing infrastructures, and especially an army, which enabled them, when historical circumstances allowed, to establish an independent state and defend its against those who sought to destroy it the day independence was declared.

More than 60 years have passed since then, and the country's existential problems have not changed at all. The main one: the failure of the Arabs and the Muslims to come to terms with the return of the Jewish people to their homeland. They have not stopped fighting this return with all available means. The latest is the building of nuclear weapons intended for distroying Israel.

Since this is a chronic situation, Israel must confront it, even in a changing world, using the spirit that enabled its establishment - the "spirit of 1948": a conviction in the rightness of the Zionist path, a pioneering volunteerism and the maintenance of ties with the Jewish Diaspora (and not just for the sake of keeping the donations flowing).

Labor was at its peak in terms of its principles, and by extension in terms of its political power, when it cultivated, preserved and led this camp. When it turned "inward" and abandoned its pioneering and revolutionary path it began to lose its identity, and as a result it lost the government in 1977.

During the glory days of the Labor movement, Zionism was part of socialism. There were streams such as Mapam, where socialism preceded Zionism, but the dominant Mapaplaced Zionism above socialism. But both, like other parties in the socialist camp, maintained that Zionism is the main engine of Jewish rebirth in the Land of Israel.

The goal - realizing Zionism - was not mentioned this week by the Labor firebrands. And if those who supported joining the coalition, such as Ofer Eini, Shalom Simhon and Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, ignored it, obviously so did opponents of the move such as Ophir Pines-Paz, Daniel Ben Simon and Shelly Yachimovich. All of them, opponents and supporters alike, focused on the means: Whether social-democratic values will be best preserved from the opposition or from within a "rightist" coalition.

The State of Israel was established in order to have a Jewish, Zionist state in the Land of Israel. The socioeconomic system was intended as a means to this end, not as a means in itself.

Political movements in Israel and other states that lost their ability to distinguish between means and end have disappeared.

Other parties on the Israeli political scene are also at risk of disappearing, including Likud, if they follow down Labor's lost way.

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