For Heaven's Sake Waiting
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Feb 25, 2026 Life in Israel seen through a perpetual state of waiting and anxious anticipation. The conversation covers media-driven rumor culture and the psychological toll of constant alerts and suspended plans. They explore historical echoes from 1967, technical fears about underground sites and missiles, and the limits of military solutions versus political openings. The piece examines how narratives shape global alliances and domestic politics.
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How Rumors Drive National Anxiety
- Israelis live in a perpetual two-hour news cycle where every rumor can reset public certainty and create collective angst.
- Donniel Hartman describes how X rumors, satirical posts, and hourly headlines drive a society-wide state of suspended waiting.
Waking At 1 A.M. Expecting War
- Everyday Israeli life mixes normal routines with sudden breaks of panic when someone claims an operation is 'tonight' based on a cousin or a cab driver.
- Yossi Klein Halevi recounts dreams, suspended military leave, and friends' tips that kept him waking at 1 a.m. expecting an attack.
Waiting After Promised Victory
- The current pause reverses Israel's 1967 'waiting period' myth: instead of waiting for victory, Israelis face waiting after a promised 'total victory.'
- Yossi Klein Halevi contrasts Kufat Ha'mtana (1967) with post-October 7th disorientation after the 12-day claims.