Nournews: In the turbulent landscape of the Middle East, war and military operations often dominate the headlines. However, the underlying wars—those waged not with missiles and tanks but through narratives, fear, mistrust, and psychological pressure—receive less attention.
In the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel, the most profound blow may not have been dealt to Tel Aviv’s physical infrastructure, but rather to the nerves and psychological fabric of Israeli society. The erosion of “social resilience” among Israelis is a slow-burning earthquake that threatens to undermine the regime’s internal foundations.
Social resilience refers to a nation’s collective capacity to endure crises, adapt to change, rebuild, and return to stability. In a world of growing tensions, the sustainability of nations depends not only on their military might, but on the ability of their people to withstand storms. Core components of this resilience include public trust in institutions, cultural cohesion, the strength of local social networks, shared narratives, and civic engagement. A society where these pillars collapse—even if it wins on the battlefield—ultimately loses at home.
Armed on the outside, fragile within
Many analysts agree that the Zionist regime commands one of the best-equipped militaries in the world. Yet, Israeli society has been showing alarming signs of internal breakdown in recent years:
Collapse of institutional trust: Internal surveys reveal that public confidence in Netanyahu’s administration, the parliament, and even the judiciary has reached historic lows. Political corruption, fractious coalitions, and the passage of controversial laws have fueled widespread disillusionment.
Ethical and social fractures: Deep-rooted divisions persist between Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jews, religious and secular communities, and hardline Zionists and Arab minorities. These divides have deepened amid the ongoing war.
Civil disobedience and mass protests: In the weeks leading up to the attacks on Iran, Israel witnessed one of the largest waves of civilian protests in its history. Hundreds took to the streets in Tel Aviv and Haifa, rallying against judicial reforms and the controversial Nation-State Law—protests that shattered the illusion of national unity.
Crisis of national narrative: For decades, Israel has leaned heavily on a “victim narrative” to maintain internal cohesion. But amid global outrage over its actions in Gaza and increasing international scrutiny, that narrative is crumbling. The justification of “self-defense” no longer resonates as it once did.
A war that shook the national psyche
Though Israel aimed to project strength during its military confrontation with Iran, Tehran’s retaliatory response dramatically altered the equation. Guided missiles, cyber counterattacks, and international condemnation triggered a wave of what some analysts call “silent horror” across Israeli society.
For the first time, Hebrew-language media openly questioned the effectiveness of bunkers, the country’s capacity to counter ballistic threats, and the growing public fear. Rumors, waves of emigration among elites, spikes in foreign travel bookings, and increased use of anti-anxiety medications all pointed to a breakdown of psychological resilience.
Signs of burnout and mistrust emerged even in cultural and artistic spheres. Social media were flooded with satire and criticism targeting the government, the military, and the failing defense systems. Beneath it all lay a stark reality: the Israeli public can no longer place the same trust in their state.
This recent conflict highlighted a sobering truth: Israel’s most serious threats may not come from its foreign enemies, but from within. A nation whose elites flee, where youth see no future, and where shared narratives disintegrate cannot sustain itself for long.
Some observers argue that Israel is experiencing “asymmetrical resilience”: a powerful army alongside an anxious population, high-tech capabilities paired with societal fragmentation, cyber dominance without shared values. And even the supposed strengths cited in official reports now face serious doubt.
Israel is steadily losing the soft capital of social cohesion and psychological endurance—precisely the elements that, over time, define the boundary between a sustainable state and a failed one. The future of the region will not be shaped solely by drone warfare, but by battles over narratives, trust, and unity. And in that arena, Israel is more fragile than ever before.