Israel: Independence Day Overshadowed by War and Division | DW News

Added: 2026-05-05

[00:00:00]Israel has been celebrating its Independence Day, marking 78 years since the Jewish state was established. But as official ceremonies are held in Jerusalem, many Israelis are questioning what Independence Day means in a country fighting several wars and deeply divided over politics.

[00:00:19]>> Israel is marking 78 years of independence after 2 and a half years of war.

[00:00:26]>> Especially this year, Independence Day is celebration. It's miraculous. It's safety. And it's an opportunity to take a deep breath after a really intense year.

[00:00:34]>> An official torch lighting ceremony was held in Jerusalem, attended by special guests with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivering a pre-recorded message.

[00:00:45]>> In shelters and hospitals, in moments of pain, in moments of joy, we have no other country and will not have another one. With God's help, we will complete the victory, strengthen our state, and secure our future.

[00:01:00]>> Many others use the moment to make their own political points, joining alternative independence events.

[00:01:07]>> Many people in Israel feel that the official ceremony and that the government doesn't reflect their values anymore and that um our democracy is being eroded. And so these kinds of ceremonies help give hope for a lot of people that we can strengthen our democracy and really ensure that this uh remains a Jewish and democratic state in the future.

[00:01:30]>> Reflecting on what it means to be Israeli now and the challenges this divided country now faces. I think Israelis are incredibly concerned um about uh the country, about its future, about the tenability of the uh Jewish democratic project. And I in particular, but many other people are deeply worried about um the moral crisis that Israel and Israeli Judaism um has found itself in. Middle East analyst Shani Rosanis joins me in the studio. Shaie, let's talk about this moral crisis that Jeremy was talking about. How big a cloud is that casting over life in Israel right now?

[00:02:14]>> Well, I think we're seeing a very somber celebrations. First of all, we need to mention this is you know since October 7th, the last uh celebrations before were under war with so many hostages still kept in Gaza. So, and then um you know I think I'm bringing up October 7th because this is where we are. this is still the shadow um that is over you know that is cast over Israel and Israelis and they're feeling um and it's it still shapes daily you know everyday lives and and also the inner dynamics in the society um and we still see if you look at polls you see still there's a very big divide when it comes to where where the opposition stand where the where the coalition stando is a very still very much seen as a very divisive figure when he talks about you know for half of the people he's you know he has a very you know he's completely the you know uh there's the criticism is is is growing and growing and for the other half there's great uh support to him and especially now after the war we need to remember at the beginning of the war there's many wars now but I think the most recent one when he talks about Iran and Lebanon um most Israelis were supporting the need to go for that attack they they were believing you know again talking about the effect of October 7th that Israel needs >> to you know to show the surroundings and the world that it's a strong country that it's not willing to tolerate even the idea of of rhetoric that is toxic, that is violent, that is threatening, that is basically calling for the, you know, the the demise of the state of Israel. Israel said, "We're not going to tolerate that anymore. We see where it landed us on October 7th." So there's great support for that. But exactly for that, Israelis now find themselves this independence day under a ceasefire and they feel, okay, but what have we gained? because the facto is that the need or the wish for better security is not fully answered. Israel's situation in Gaza is not resolved with Lebanon.

[00:04:01]It's not resolved with Iran. It is not resolved. Even himself in in in a statement to the public last week said, "We are not done. We still have more work to do." So, and this is something tearing up the Israel society about politics, about how to move on, about whether Netanyahu is good enough or not.

[00:04:17]This is these are some of the you know this this is the the the the the main line that divides Israeli society still even and we see it even in these celebrations where we see also alternative celebrations because Netanyahu has become seen by so many as such a divisive figure that the idea of a uniting ceremony for itself has become has been brought into question.

[00:04:40]>> That's the domestic situation.

[00:04:42]internationally where do you see the country 78 years after independence?

[00:04:46]>> Well, I think it's again it's a very good point. I think there's no doubt one thing is sure uh you know sometimes around these discussions we're talking about Israel's right to exist or whatever there is clear understanding Israel is there it's not going anywhere and it can you know it has a place among the nations however when we're talking about the factor what does it mean you know on the one hand managed to get great support from the Americans for many years also from now from the recent president from Trump there's a great alliance working between Israel and the Americans but at the same time there's also people asking have we taken this too far because what we have been seeing is that for the support of the Americans, we are paying in our sovereignity. We are paying in our independence. We are paying in the ability to decide on our fate because the last ceasefires were basically forced in Israel by the American uh president. That's one thing. If you look at the European front, you see a lot of chilling uh effects happening there.

[00:05:36]Even Italy and Germany very much clearly distancing themselves from from Israel.

[00:05:41]German chancellor was was talking last week about the need of Israel to curb uh violent settler uh actions in the West Bank. The the Italians are pulling away from uh military uh cooperations. We're not sure what the EU might bring on Israel now that the Hungarian veto is off the table with Orban being gone. So there's, you know, Israel is in a very is in a very precarious, very somber also mode. we feel in these celebrations and within that we also need to remember that Israel is facing election coming up soon and all of this will be what will be you know on the table and we will see where the Israel society chooses to head.

[00:06:17]>> Shani Rosan it's always great to have you on the show. Thanks so much. You're >> welcome.