Deepening internal fractures are pushing Israel to the brink of crisis.
According to Atlas of Diplomacy, an op‑ed titled “Israelis Fear the Collapse of Israel,” written by Qabas Zaafarani and published by Fars News Agency, drawing on the views and data of Israeli media outlets, elites, and statistical centers, argues that the convergence of demographic crises, the erosion of international legitimacy, the dysfunction of political leadership, and the deepening of social cleavages has exposed Israel more than ever to collapse from within. The article maintains that Israel’s primary threat is not external enemies, but internal disintegration. What follows is a synopsis of the piece.
In Israel, anxieties over the collapse of the regime have intensified, and many elites and citizens believe that the regime lacks the capacity to continue its survival. Israeli media and analysts speak of a real possibility of Israel’s end, and public debate on this issue has expanded. The demographic crisis is regarded as one of the most serious threats. A report from Harvard University by Yaakov Garb, analyzing spatial data, shows that the siege of Gaza and military attacks have caused a sharp decline in the Palestinian population and the death of nearly 200,000 children, reflecting Israel’s moral and humanitarian crisis. At the same time, declining birthrates and reverse migration among Jews have made the regime’s demographic future even more fragile, and fears of population decline have led to unstable and failed policies.
The failure of political leadership and the crisis in decision‑making are also among the main drivers of internal instability. Ehud Olmert’s warning about collapse resulting from the deadlock of the two‑state process has materialized, and Netanyahu’s extremist policies have intensified this trajectory. The book “The End of Israel,” published in November 2023 after Operation Al‑Aqsa Flood [Iranian/Palestinian term for the October 7, 2023 attacks], describes Israel as a nation in free fall. Bradley Burston of Haaretz believes that even before the war began, Israel was already facing the question of whether that year’s Independence Day celebration would be its last. He characterizes the current situation as beyond madness and points to the regime’s moral and social disintegration.
Aluf Benn, former editor‑in‑chief of Haaretz, has emphasized in his writings from 2016 to 2024 that the secular and progressive Israel no longer exists, having been replaced by a regime fundamentally different from its founding principles. In his view, the process of collapse has accelerated in recent years under Netanyahu’s policies, and Israel is effectively moving along a path of self‑destruction. By comparing Netanyahu with Moshe Dayan, he identifies the absence of political rationality as the principal cause of the downfall.
The myth of Israel’s invincibility has also collapsed. Yoav Rinon, a professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, presents the figure of Samson as a symbol of the fanaticism and selfishness of Christian Zionists, while Yuval Noah Harari warns that Israel stands on the brink of a catastrophic defeat. Statistical data on Jewish reverse migration and mass flight following the October 7 operation indicate that more than 145,900 people have left Israel, the majority of whom have no intention of returning.
Structural transformations after Al‑Aqsa Flood have reshaped Israeli society. A report by The Times of Israel in October 2025 shows that the war has intensified social and political divisions and shattered national unity. Today, the phrase “civil war” has become part of everyday language among Israeli citizens, and a society that was once united is moving toward total rupture. Collapse from within, more than external threats, will determine the future of this regime.
