The incitement comes across loud and clear this time too. But the writing on the wall is much larger now than it was prior to the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995. This time, nobody will be able to say, "We saw no evil, we heard no evil, we spoke no evil." Rabin refused to wear a bulletproof jacket because he found the idea of a Jew murdering another Jew unfathomable. However, our bitter lesson has taught us that a Jew can murder another Jew and a bulletproof vest will not cut it anymore. Israel is now standing at a juncture leading to a political, social and religious rift. Violent and sharp, it includes all of the country’s political streams. Yet, it is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who is largely to blame.

Netanyahu has set himself the goal to delegitimize Israel’s left-wing camp. It all began during his first term in office (1996-99). While visiting a synagogue in the Bukharim quarter in Jerusalem in 1999, he whispered in the ear of Rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri — one of Shas Party’s spiritual leaders — “The left has forgotten what it’s like to be a Jew.” This attitude has continued throughout his premierships.

Inspired by Netanyahu, the term “left” has become synonymous with treason, and its use has become widespread. Every human rights organization is stigmatized as a leftist organization. Every left-wing organization — defined as such — is immediately suspected by those who have been persuaded that “left” is a pejorative term as undercutting the state’s very own foundations. And we all know what the punishment for high treason is.

It is Netanyahu’s (commanding) spirit that lingers above. Those who have forgotten “what it means to be a Jew” are now being accused of not being flag-waving jingoists — of not being patriots. They are accused of forgetting what love of the homeland means. It doesn’t matter if they served in the military, sacrificed their lives, were wounded during service or lost a family member — left remains left no matter what.