Who doesn’t love the ending of Little Red Riding Hood, when out of nowhere a hunter appears, saves the girl and her grandmother, punishes the big bad wolf, and everything is happily resolved? Some literary theorists, that's who. As early as Aristotle, many believed that solutions to plot complications must rise organically from within the story, and that parachuting an external player in order to provide a suitable end reflects poor writing, undermines the story's credibility, and is best avoided.
Plot devices like the sudden appearance of the hunter were known in Greek as Apo Makhanes Theos – god from machine. In Greek drama, actors playing gods arrived on the stage in a mechanical construction, and solved an impossible situation. The Latin equivalent, deus ex machina, has come to mean unexpected external involvement which resolves an apparent impasse and saves the situation.
No ancient or modern playwright could imagine the elaborate drama in which Israel is currently embroiled. Here are some headlines: A war with no end in sight, fear of conflagration in the North and concerns about Iranian retaliation, dead and injured, hostages and evacuees, huge expenses, lowered credit rating, growing international criticism, the onset of sanctions and international legal proceedings, unprecedented tension with the United States, a coalition which juggles extreme Right and ultra-Orthodox demands in order to survive, internal divisions, and a deepening sense of loss of direction. Is there a way out?
There are those who believe that current events are a step towards redemption. Some of them are convinced they know precisely what is required in order to speed Messiah's arrival, and act upon this knowledge.
The Talmud tells us that as the Children of Israel were redeemed from Egypt during the month of Nissan, so they are destined to be redeemed in the same (current) month. Just as we witnessed miracles during the Exodus, so we can soon expect a revelation. The entire world, including our enemies, will recognize our right to the entire Promised Land, and all will be well.
Others fear that the current entanglement (of Israel within itself, and with the world – and no, blaming antisemitism may be valid, but does not help) is so complex, that there is no way out, and we must prepare for the worst.
I am convinced that most Israelis are not willing to reconcile themselves to the second possibility and that even those who yearn for redemption, do not believe that anticipating it is a practical plan of action. Therefore, the public must understand that a resolution will not magically emerge from a machine. How then is Israel to conduct itself?
One possibility is to continue along the same path, while deflecting questions and challenges. Who will rule Gaza the day after? This is not the time to talk about it. What is Israel's political aim regarding Gaza, and the Palestinians in general? We will tell you after 'total victory", as the slogans state. What will happen to the civilians in Gaza? Trust us!
However, it is essential to understand that this will have consequences. They are unknowable, as developments are rapid. For example, a British newspaper which I sometimes skim, and which has been supportive since October 7 was horrified by the killing of foreign aid workers – three of the seven were British – and its headlines suddenly changed accordingly.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Joe Biden
(Photo: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun, REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz)
While we cannot know what might happen, we can guess. Possibly, America will move from words to deeds, saying it might condition aid on certain changes in Israeli conduct, and we will have no choice but to comply. Or, international courts or the UN Security Council will pass binding resolutions. Trade sanctions would hit every Israeli pocket.
The seeds for all the above have been sown, so their emergence should not be a deus ex machina type of surprise, but are to be expected.
Tova HerzlInstead of continuing to tread water and ignoring warning signs, another modus operandi is available to Israel. It can suggest ideas and initiate actions. However, clan rule in Gaza, the establishment of an international force independent of the overall political situation, or a return to the interrupted dialog with Saudi Arabia while deepening the settlements in the territories, those are all conversations with ourselves, which are not connected to any reality except in the minds of those who suggest them.
Israel is at a junction, between redemption (amen!), ruin (alas), compliance with external pressure (highly probable), and initiative. Tragically, it is doubtful that those who are entrusted with our very future are capable of rising above themselves, so as to become our very own deux ex machina, which will extricate us from our increasingly threatening imbroglio.
Tova Herzl is a former Israeli ambassador to South Africa and the Baltic countries, and served as liaison between the U.S. Congress at the Israeli Embassy in Washington