Retired Israeli Major General Itzhak Brik has warned that Israel is facing an irreversible breakdown across its military, economy and state institutions, arguing that the country has lost international legitimacy and allies and cannot withstand prolonged isolation.
In an opinion article published on Sunday by the Israeli daily Maariv, Brik described the situation as a comprehensive collapse rather than a political crisis.
He called the results of last Tuesday’s parliamentary election “the official death certificate of the State of Israel as we knew it”, accusing television commentators of focusing on seat counts and coalition negotiations while overlooking what he described as far deeper national problems.
He compared their coverage to an orchestra playing aboard the Titanic as it sank.
Brik warns of military and economic deterioration
Brik, a former commander of military colleges and former ombudsman for soldiers’ complaints at the Defence Ministry, said Israel had become an international pariah.
“We have lost legitimacy and allies,” he wrote, warning that the country could not endure complete isolation for long.
He described the ground forces as suffering from structural weaknesses and declining morale, arguing that they lacked the capacity to defend Israel against simultaneous threats from inside and outside its borders.
An exhausted military, he warned, would struggle to repel large-scale incursions or protect civilians in a wider regional conflict.
Brik also put Israel’s national debt at 1.4 trillion shekels ($445 billion), saying prolonged warfare had placed an increasing burden on the economy. He alleged that sanctions, restrictions on arms supplies and growing financial isolation were adding to the pressure.
He dismissed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposal to use cryptocurrencies to counter possible European sanctions as “naive and absurd”, warning that further economic deterioration could put Israelis’ savings at risk.
‘Silent civil war’ and institutional decline
Turning to domestic tensions, Brik said Israeli society was experiencing a “silent civil war”, rather than mere political polarisation.
He claimed that doctors, scientists, technology entrepreneurs and other highly skilled professionals were leaving the country, taking with them expertise built up over decades.
Brik also accused Israel’s political leadership of undermining the rule of law and public institutions, alleging that political loyalty and appointments were being prioritised over competence and integrity.
Election leaves political blocs short of majority
The warning came after the October 27 parliamentary election left Netanyahu’s bloc with 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset.
The opposition bloc led by Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot secured 48 seats, while Arab parties won 19.
Neither of the two main blocs reached the 61 seats required for a parliamentary majority, leaving the political landscape uncertain as coalition negotiations loom.
