Fraternal or civil war is often on people’s lips these days. The fear of it hangs like a cloud over the history of modern Israel. The country is facing one of its greatest national crises since it was founded 75 years ago: It is the first time in the country’s history that charges have been brought against a sitting prime minister.

The opposition is accusing Netanyahu of driving the country into a fratricidal war, and of causing great division among the electorate.  Hatred between those on the Left and those on the Right is on the rise, as is hostility between religious and non-religious Jews. In general, the mood of the people is heated as the media are constantly debating the issue.

In the summer of 2005, when Israel forcibly evacuated 8,000 Jewish settlers from the Gaza Strip, there was widespread talk of a possible civil war. There was a deep division within the Jewish population. Most were in favor of the unilateral evacuation of the Gaza Strip, but the Israeli National-Religious settlers movement viewed it as a betrayal...