The criticism recently directed at the residents of northern Israel – the outrageous question, “What happened to their resilience?” – is not only a moral injustice, but also reveals a dangerous logical failure in the way Israeli society understands the human psyche. As someone who has cared for northern communities for decades, I would like to offer an argument that has yet to be heard in the public discourse: The residents of the north have become victims of their own competence.

In ancient folk tales, the hero embarks on a difficult journey to find the “spring of life” that will save his village. He battles dragons and crosses abysses thanks to ingenuity and inner resilience. But what happens in a story where the hero returns to the village only to discover that the spring has dried up, not because of a natural drought, but because those responsible for protecting the river diverted its waters elsewhere?

This is the story of northern Israel. For decades, its residents developed a phenomenal ability to live under threat. They became so efficient at “coping” that the state grew accustomed to the idea........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)