ByBRENDA KATTEN

JULY 4, 2026 15:53

Updated: JULY 4, 2026 15:54

As political parties prepare for elections this autumn, or possibly sooner should the government yield to pressure from its more extreme factions, identifying the traits of effective leadership grows increasingly vital.

Amid unprecedented global isolation for Israel and a surge in worldwide antisemitism, the nation needs a leader who places its core interests first. Israel and antisemitism worldwide are intertwined and must be addressed together.

When crowds in London and other capitals wave banners declaring "From the river to the sea Palestine shall be free," the intent is clear: the elimination of Israel, home to the world's largest Jewish population.

Must a prime minister speak fluent English? Some have questioned one candidate's command of the language compared to Benjamin Netanyahu, yet earlier leaders with less polished English still guided the country effectively.

Looking back, past prime ministers succeeded without matching Netanyahu's fluency in English while serving the nation well.

Leadership rooted in conviction rather than image

What defines strong leadership? Perhaps the key lies in genuine motivation.

I recently attended an event focused on the life of Yitzhak Shamir, Israel's seventh prime minister. Organized by ESRA Netanya under chairwoman Barbara Kliner, the program featured Shamir's son Yair, who shared insights about his father.

I approached the evening with some hesitation due to longstanding portrayals by UK officials labeling Shamir a terrorist.

After hearing Yair Shamir, a former Israel Air Force pilot who entered the Knesset in 2013 and later served as agriculture minister, I gained a clearer view of a leader ready to risk everything for the Jewish state's rebirth.

Where did Shamir's drive originate?

Early experiences shape adult motivation, and Shamir's path reflects this pattern.

Born in 1915 in Ruzhany, Poland, Shamir attended the Bialystok Hebrew Gymnasium and joined the Betar movement at age 14.

After studies at the University of Warsaw, he moved to Mandatory Palestine in 1935. He joined the Irgun in 1937, then left in 1940 for Lehi, also called the Stern Group, which rejected restraint toward British authorities.

Arrested twice by the British, Shamir escaped both times and later found refuge in France before returning to Palestine in 1948 to lead Lehi until the state's founding.

What fueled his willingness to sacrifice for a Jewish homeland?

His family's Holocaust losses provide the answer. His mother Peria and sister Miriam perished in concentration camps, while sister Rivka and her family were shot by German forces.

His father Shlomo escaped a death train only to be killed by former neighbors upon returning home.

These tragedies likely strengthened Shamir's resolve to secure Israel's future.

He may have wondered how many of the six million victims could have been saved had a Jewish state existed earlier.

History records that at the 1938 Evian conference, 32 nations refused to accept Jewish refugees, with only the Dominican Republic offering any help.

Today's leaders can draw from Shamir's record, which included Operation Solomon in 1991 that airlifted 15,000 Ethiopian Jews to Israel in 36 hours, plus the arrival of hundreds of thousands of Jews from the former Soviet Union during his tenure.

Shamir remained modest, emphasizing Jewish unity and national security above all.

Division leaves Israel exposed to its foes

History demonstrates that internal division invites vulnerability, as seen on October 7, 2023, when deep rifts allowed enemies to strike.

Division persists today as the government yields to extremists by exempting around 66,000 haredim from military service.

Shamir demonstrated unity by rotating the prime minister role with Shimon Peres in the 1980s, alternating between prime minister and foreign minister.

This approach echoes the 2021 partnership between Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett, where Lapid accepted a later turn as prime minister to form a government despite his party's larger mandate.

Bennett and Lapid have now united their parties under the name Together for the coming election, though more like-minded groups have yet to join.

Voters must consider a candidate's true motivation: dedication to Israel's welfare or simply holding power.

A quote at ANU - Museum of the Jewish People reads: "Remember the past, live the present, trust the future."

Reflecting on history deepens appreciation for the present and reminds us daily of the privilege of living in Israel and the security it provides to Jews everywhere.

Looking ahead, we must seek strong and well-motivated leadership to protect our country's future.

Am Yisrael Hai.

The writer is president of Israel, Britain and the Commonwealth Association and has chaired public affairs organizations in Israel and the UK.