A letter written by leaders of Israel's high-tech industry was published recently in the daily press, evoking passionate responses from proponents of the incoming coalition, some worth discussing in detail.
In short, the letter voiced concerns that the far-right, ultra-religious incoming government would adversely affect Israel's standing as a successful source of innovation in the international arena.
This country stands out among other nations in the world by having government representations from almost all sectors of society. There are especially many political parties that represent the vast ultra-Orthodox sector. Their parliamentary representatives take pride in achieving "wins" in Israel's many elections, grabbing large shares of Knesset seats to push their agenda - which often opposes the Zionist narrative.
The West Bank settlers, meanwhile, are represented by The Yesha Council - an umbrella organization of municipal councils of Jewish settlements in the West Bank. They are an ideological body claiming to speak for the hundreds of thousands of Jews living there, although most of them reside in large urban centers, such as Ma'ale Adumim near Jerusalem, and not in smaller ideological settlements or outposts.
The Israeli parliament also includes an Islamist party as well as factions from the now-defunct Joint List alliance of Arab parties. In the past, the Knesset even had a pensioners' party, which offered funds and portfolios just to join the coalition.
And now, incredibly, the high-tech sector has decided to pipe in and express its own views.
This industry employs 11% of Israel's overall workforce. And although it represents only 4% of the population, it is responsible for more than half of Israel's foreign revenue.
What could have possibly possessed them to weigh in on political and legislative matters? Are they schooled in the law? Can they not enjoy the praise heaped upon them by Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu and make do with that?
But the authors of the letter never claimed to be legal experts, but rather professionals who understand the business environment.
"The diminishing confidence in Israel's legal system, and as a result in its democracy – could cause investors to stay clear of the industry," they wrote in the letter.
A majority of Israelis have repeatedly allowed sectorial political parties - predominately, but not exclusively, the ultra-Orthodox - to circumvent the interest of the public at large.
The recent coalition negotiations are just a recent example. To get the religious parties to agree to enter the government, Netanyahu has apparently promised the Haredi yeshiva students more funding, despite not even studying core subjects in their schools - including math, English and sciences.
If Netanyahu is quick to take credit for the economic miracle that is Israel, why does he refuse to defend it?
The seeds for the current success of the high-tech sector were planted not the least by Israel's educational system – the one the emerging coalition is threatening to destroy and contaminate with radical homophobic and misogynist ideologies.
The letter written by the high-tech industry should be welcomed. Not because it was written by rich and successful people, or because they know more about how to run a country. They should be taken seriously because they know their own fields well and understand the importance of such fields to Israel's strategic standing and its economic well-being.
If, like Netanyahu, right-wing take pride in the entrepreneurial spirit of Israel – they may consider a change of heart, and even choose to take the time to listen.
Israel's high-tech sector has for too long ignored the reality in Israeli society. At best, they donated to social causes and participated in social outreach projects. They were trusted to continue the flow of revenue even when governments made efforts to destroy the infrastructures from which they emerged. They went along, as long as their personal success was not under threat.
But, will Israel continue to be a high-tech and innovative success when it is a religious theocracy? Can the entrepreneurial spirit exist in a crumbling democracy?
Israel is now at a crossroads and would struggle to succeed in a global environment when its government is set on the destruction of the liberal order.
And to those who authored the notorious letter, and those who may consider doing the same in the future, I leave you with the words of John Stuart Mill: "Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing."