Israel must formulate a long-term vision and strategy.

Seventy-five years later, it is time to redefine the mission of Zionism and formulate a long-term strategy for the state.

This year, we mark the 75th anniversary of Israel's independence, a poignant reminder of the truly remarkable history shared by the Jewish people. In 1902, in his famous novel "Altneuland," Theodor Herzl, the founder and driving force behind the World Zionist Organization, allowed himself to dream on a grand scale. Today, it is difficult to read this work without a smile. Educated in the finest European tradition, Herzl envisioned bringing Europe itself, with its entire essence, culture, and technological progress, to the Middle East. Like many early theoretical and political Zionists, he even regarded this as the key to establishing good-neighbourly relations and peaceful coexistence with the local Arab population. When concrete reality intervened, history disrupted these aspirations. However, there is no denying the profound foresight of Herzl's overarching vision.

Ultimately, the Zionist project succeeded in establishing a modern Jewish state. Nevertheless, the journey to this achievement was extremely arduous, and at times, during the most critical junctures, it may have seemed insurmountable.

"To put it mildly, our chances are very slim at the moment. To be perfectly frank, we must acknowledge that the adversary holds a tremendous advantage," was the assessment of Yigael Yadin, then-commander of Haganah operations and future Chief of the General Staff, evaluating Israel's prospects. According to Ben-Gurion, these remarks were made at a meeting on May 12, 1948, just two days prior to the historic declaration of independence.

The atmosphere among Israeli leaders at the time was tense and filled with complex emotions. The War of Independence had commenced long before that day. By May 1948, fierce battles were already raging across the country. Jerusalem was under a severe siege. A day before the declaration, on May 13, the four kibbutzim of Gush Etzion fell, only to be reconstituted decades later. Following the declaration, hostilities intensified on multiple fronts, and the initial weeks of the newborn Jewish state proved to be perhaps the most challenging, if not decisive. A final armistice agreement was not signed until the summer of 1949.

Other equally daunting economic, social, and security challenges continued to confront the young nation in the subsequent decades, forcing Israeli leaders to operate at the absolute limit of their capabilities. Yet, despite grim predictions, Israel heroically endured both the War of Independence and those early, difficult decades. The subsequent 75 years, filled with milestone events, victories, and achievements, have become history.

Today, the Jewish people possess a rapidly growing, modern, democratic state. However, democracy in Israel must not be taken for granted. We have been fortunate to preserve and strengthen the democratic foundations of our society during the most testing times. Seeking to safeguard the continuity of democratic traditions and fostering a robust system of checks and balances remains imperative to securing the very future of our nation for generations to come.

At the first Zionist congresses, delegates debated whether the priority should be political maneuvers toward statehood or the physical settlement of the Land of Israel, a debate historically framed as the tension between political and practical Zionism. Today, we can confidently assert that ensuring the fullness of democracy in Israel constitutes both the practical and political Zionism of our era.

The view that Zionism has fulfilled its mission and lost its relevance as an ideology over time is misguided. The physical settlement of the land, the establishment of the state, and the attainment of political recognition among nations do not mean the work is complete. These very dimensions require ongoing redefinition. A significant amount of political, practical, and spiritual work lies ahead. In the routine of daily life, we tend to forget that our "founding fathers," both in ancient times and recent history, aspired to nothing less than making the world a better place. This aspiration binds Judaism and modern Zionism. The idealism of the Torah and the commandment to serve as a model for other nations by building an exemplary, prosperous state with a just society inspired Zionist pioneers and ideologues alike.

Consequently, merely constructing a satisfactory state did not exhaust their vision, and we are only halfway there. We must revive and embrace a far-sighted, visionary Zionism once more. Despite our rapid development by many metrics, and the fact that the State of Israel is currently among the world's most prosperous nations, we have recently appeared somewhat adrift, seemingly at a standstill.

We approach this Independence Day with mixed sentiments. Israeli society is characterized by a resounding silence and mutual distrust regarding current events. As political discourse and the media landscape remain fraught with suspicion and mutual accusations among various segments of society, genuine and substantive open dialogue has ceased. Each social and political group moves silently in its own direction, attempting to forge its own Jewish state without articulating its aspirations and goals. There is a lack of a platform where diverse opinions can be expressed and debated constructively regarding the future of our people and state. Consequently, we lack a cohesive strategy, which often results in short-term, fragmented, and short-sighted policies driven almost entirely by political expediency.

As a nation, we must address a question fundamental to long-term planning: where do we envision ourselves in 5, 10, or 25 years? Every political statement and election platform should clearly articulate the ultimate purpose of proposed initiatives, defining the long-term or intermediate objectives. This applies even to routine matters. For instance, in seeking to improve the living or working conditions of citizens, the underlying objective must be framed within the broader context of the future of the Jewish state, rather than short-term interests and immediate political dynamics.

A broad perspective characterized the early Zionist congresses and the state's policies in its formative decades. This approach was grounded in a long-term vision aligned with the core values and ideals of different perspectives, all addressing one fundamental question: what future are we building for the Jewish people? Today, raising this question might seem overly idealistic or outdated, yet addressing it seriously is precisely what is required of us at this juncture.

Just as negotiating teams currently seek common ground regarding judicial reform, we must identify our shared vision for the overall future of our nation. Seventy-five years later, it is time to redefine the mission of Zionism and formulate a comprehensive strategy for the years ahead.