Yet such a mobilization seems to be the goal of the chorus of commentators calling on Barak's left-wing Labor party to join Sharon's Likud in a "national unity" government. In a time of crisis, they argue, it is better for Jews to stand together to face their enemies. There is no room for political opposition in a time of war.

This argument goes too far, I think, in its cynicism about the current plight of Israel. Although the Intifada is making life extremely stressful and increasing the personal insecurity of Israelis, the country is under no real military threat. A unity government comprising Labor and Likud would shut down the internal discourse on peace within Israel, reinforcing the Palestinians in their belief that there is no real difference between the two sides.

It would be far better for Labor to stay outside the government as a conscientious opposition, continuing to search for a way to make peace even when the circumstances seem forbidding. By dropping the idea of "national unity" and letting the Likud form a coalition with the religious parties Labor will retain the flexibility to criticize the government's position on peace. Joining Sharon after his landslide electoral victory will not allow leftists to "moderate" Sharon's policies, as some have suggested, but simply relieve him of the need to respond to criticism from the peace camp.

A Jewish state needs democratic discourse and strong political opposition. Unfortunately, the Palestinian conflict has drawn attention away from challenges and issues--including the secular-religious divide and the socioeconomic status of the Arabs and Jewish immigrants--which are the real stumbling blocks to Israeli national unity. If Sharon executes his campaign pledge to end the single-minded obsession with formal peace talks that characterized Barak's government, a policy which would obviate the need for a unity government, then perhaps some of these pressing domestic issues can finally be addressed.

Mending Israel's internal divisions--achieving true, not artificial, national unity--is the only way to bring about a new era of post-post-Zionism.

Eran A. Mukamel '01 is a physics concentrator in Quincy House.