In Jewish history, states rarely endure for more than 80 years, and Israel is on the brink of entering its “eighth decade,” a prospect that challenges historical Jewish beliefs. The first Jewish kingdom, that of David, lasted from 586 to 516 BC, while the Hasmonean era spanned from 140 to 37 BC. Israel’s impending entry into the eighth decade seems at odds with Jewish historical norms and has led to a growing sense of impending defeat and decline. This so-called “eighth-decade curse” has Israelis on edge, particularly amid internal conflicts and mounting tensions with various adversaries on multiple fronts. The crisis surrounding this eighth decade may even foreshadow a major civil war among Israelis themselves, potentially leading to the collapse of the supposed “state.”
Notable Israeli figures, including former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, have sounded warnings about the risks tied to Israel’s eighth decade. Barak highlighted the impact of the historical Zionist narrative on the collective Zionist consciousness. He stated, “The eighth decade immediately heralds the beginning of sovereignty’s disintegration. In the eighth decade of its existence, the Davidic dynasty divided into Judah and Israel. In the eighth decade of the Hasmonean Kingdom, internal polarization emerged, and their representatives appealed to Pompey in Syria, seeking the dissolution of the Hasmonean Kingdom, which eventually became a Roman vassal state.” He continued, “The Zionist project is the third attempt in history. We have reached the eighth decade, and we are obsessed, flagrantly disregarding Talmudic warnings, rushing towards the end, immersed in senseless hatred.” Ari Shavit, a prominent journalist, added that Israelis have become “their own worst enemies in the eighth decade of Israeli independence, and while they can face security challenges, they cannot overcome the disintegration of their identity.”
Nafatli Bennett, Israel’s former Prime Minister, emphasized that Israel faces an unprecedented crisis, approaching the brink of collapse and standing at a historic crossroads. He remarked, “Israel fell apart twice in the past due to internal conflicts, once when the state was 77 years old and again three years later. Now, we are in our third era and face a real test.”
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s current Prime Minister, once expressed his desire for Israel to reach its centenary but acknowledged that history shows Jews have rarely sustained a state for more than 80 years, with the Hasmoneans as the sole exception.
Ari Shavit, a Zionist commentator, believes that Israelis have reached a point of no return, and Israel is breathing its last breath, making it unfit for habitation. He asserts that since their arrival in Palestine, Israelis have been victims of a Zionist fabrication, leveraging a magnified Holocaust to convince the world that Palestine was a land without a people, and that the alleged Temple beneath the Al-Aqsa Mosque is now leading Israel toward its end. He concludes by saying, “It’s time to depart to San Francisco or Berlin.”
Abraham Borg, Israel’s former Knesset President, was clear when he wrote in The Washington Post, “Israel stands on the precipice of the end of the Zionist dream, heading towards ruin.” He urged Israelis to acquire a second passport, revealing that he himself possesses a French one.
Gideon Levy, an Israeli analyst, declared, “We face the most difficult people in history. The self-destructive process and the Israeli cancer have reached their final stages, and there is no cure with iron domes, walls, or nuclear bombs.”
Tamir Pardo, former head of Mossad, warned, “While there is talk of major threats hovering over Israel, the greatest threat lies within ourselves. In recent years, we have mastered the mechanism of self-destruction, leading us to the point of no return. Israel is self-destructing.”
Shaul Arieli, a retired general, wrote in Haaretz that the Zionist movement failed to establish a democratic Jewish state with a Jewish majority, and time is not on Israel’s side. He believes that Israel’s end is approaching and that its dissolution is inevitable.
Reuven Rivlin, former Israeli President, spoke of the divisions within Israeli society, classifying it into four tribes: secular Jews, Zionist Jews, Arabs, and non-Zionist Haredi Jews. These divisions are forcing Israeli leaders to confront challenging questions about the future of the Zionist state.
Historian Benny Morris argued that Israel’s future is uncertain due to the numerical superiority of Arabs in the region between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. He predicts that when Arabs become the majority, they will demand the return of refugees, and Jews will become a persecuted minority.
Adnan Abu Tabanja, a Palestinian historian, believes that the Torah’s prophecies indicate that the Jewish state’s existence will be short-lived, with its leader, “Ata’ Allah,” signifying the end.
These diverse opinions and warnings from prominent figures in Israel highlight the growing uncertainty and concern surrounding the country’s future as it approaches its “eighth decade.” The potential challenges and internal divisions it faces may indeed shape its destiny in the coming years.
