The tragic group-self of Israel in present tense

This article explores the “tragic group-self” of Israel as it manifests in the present, shaped by ongoing political, social, and psychoanalytic dynamics. Drawing on Kohut’s writings on charisma, leadership, and group psychology, the discussion traces how Israeli society has become entangled in processes of messianism, authoritarian tendencies, and vertical splits, while simultaneously generating powerful movements of democratic resistance. Clinical vignettes and social observations highlight the lived experience of individuals who navigate between despair, protest, and hope. The analysis emphasizes the dangers of charismatic-messianic leadership, the psychic and societal costs of denial and splitting, and the possibilities for reconstituting a cohesive and democratic nuclear group-self. Ultimately, the article argues that Israeli society is at a critical juncture where psychoanalytic insight can illuminate both the perils of regression into authoritarianism and the transformative potential of collective responsibility, mutual recognition, and democratic renewal.