Dotan Rousso: In grief and at war, Israel remains a vibrant nation

Skip to Content Subscribe Our Offers My Account Manage My Subscriptions FAQ Newsletters Canada Canadian True Crime Canadian Politics Health World Israel & Middle East Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Comics NP News Quiz New York Times Crossword Horoscopes Life Eating & Drinking Style Sponsored Play for Ontario Travel Travel Canada Travel USA Travel International Cruises Travel Essentials Culture Books Celebrity Movies Music Theatre Television Business Essentials Advice Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Buy Canadian Home Living Outdoor Living Kitchen & Dining Tech Style & Beauty Personal Care Entertainment & Hobbies Gift Guide Travel Guide Amazon Prime Day Deals Savings National Post Store More Sports Hockey Baseball Basketball Football Soccer Golf Tennis Driving Vehicle Research Reviews News Gear Guide Obituaries Place an Obituary Place an In Memoriam Classifieds Place an Ad Celebrations Working Business Ads Archives Healthing Epaper Manage Print Subscription Profile Settings My Subscriptions Saved Articles My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ Newsletters Canada World Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Life Shopping Epaper Manage Print Subscription This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.HomeNP CommentDotan Rousso: In grief and at war, Israel remains a vibrant nationHamas haven't stopped the country from being beautiful, modern and thrivingLast updated 0 minutes ago You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.People play football on the beach in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv on July 7, 2026. Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP via Getty ImagesIf someone landed in Israel today without having followed the news for the past three years, they would likely struggle to conclude they had arrived in a country at war. That was the thought that stayed with me throughout several weeks in Israel this summer.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERSEnjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ARTICLESEnjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESCreate an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountLiving in Canada, I understand why many Canadians picture Israel almost exclusively through images of destruction, military operations and political controversy. Since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, massacre, international coverage has understandably focused on war and humanitarian suffering. The result is that many Canadians have come to associate Israel almost entirely with conflict. The reality on the ground is strikingly different.Recommended VideosThe journey begins at Ben Gurion Airport, one of the world’s most modern terminals. Minutes later, visitors travel on immaculate highways or fast, modern trains through a country that feels prosperous, organized and remarkably dynamic. Modern skylines stretch across Tel Aviv and beyond. New residential towers, office buildings and neighbourhoods already define much of the landscape.The National Post newsletter that doesn’t hold back, giving readers the unvarnished truth on media, politics and culture.By signing up, you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Right? will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againAlong the Mediterranean coast, long stretches of white sand meet crystal-blue water beneath cloudless summer skies. The beaches are crowded from morning until sunset. Families relax under umbrellas. Surfers wait for the next wave. Volleyball games fill the sand. The unmistakable sound of matkot — Israel’s beloved beach paddle game — echoes up and down the shoreline. Beach cafés, restaurants and pubs are full, while runners and cyclists crowd the promenade. It feels far more like a thriving Mediterranean resort than a country approaching its third year of war.That impression extends well beyond appearances. Israel remains one of the world’s leading innovation economies, with globally recognized strengths in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and medical technology. Major international technology companies continue investing in the country, and the Israeli shekel is now stronger than it was before the war and dramatically stronger than in the weeks immediately following October 7, an extraordinary reflection of confidence in Israel’s long-term economic resilience.Another widespread misconception concerns Israeli society itself. Watching the news from Canada, one could easily conclude that Israel is defined by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the most controversial members of his coalition. My experience was very different. Throughout my visit, I heard sharp criticism of the prime minister and his government from friends, relatives and complete strangers alike. Many openly expressed hope that the next election would bring new leadership.Yet alongside these political disagreements was another reality that receives far less attention in the West. While Israelis argue passionately about politics and government, the overwhelming majority also believe this is not a war their country chose, but one forced upon it by enemies openly committed to Israel’s destruction. They debate how the war should be fought and who should lead the country — not why Hamas attacked on October 7.None of this diminishes the tragedy of the war. My own family has paid its price. My nephew, Ofek Rousso, was killed defending Kibbutz Be’eri during the Hamas massacre. Virtually every Israeli knows someone who has been killed, wounded or displaced.This advertisement has not loaded yet.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.The grief is real. But so is the extraordinary vitality of Israeli society.This is the Israel that rarely appears in the social or mainstream media. Yet it is Israel that greets virtually every visitor from the moment they land: a beautiful, modern, thriving and remarkably vibrant country whose everyday reality is strikingly different from the image that so many Canadians have come to know.Dotan Rousso is a philosophy faculty member in Canada; a legal scholar; a writer on ethics, media and international affairs; and the author of After October 7: Being Jewish and Israeli Under Judgment.Notice for the Postmedia NetworkThis website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.