Netta Barak-Corren: 'I hope that Gaza will see a day when it is no longer ruled by Hamas'

Israel is facing several existential crises—at least three, by Netta Barak-Corren's account. The legal scholar and law professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem is intimately concerned with Israel's future and current threats. During the judicial reform, Netta authored a 45-page document (later translated into English) breaking down the problems and proper courses of action as she saw them, and most recently, she co-wrote a 28-page recommendation for the Israeli government's plan for Gaza after the war. An award-winning researcher and visiting teacher and fellow at elite universities, Netta is also a cognitive scientist and seeks empirical and pragmatic resolutions in law. Now, she joins Sruli Fruchter to answer 18 questions on Israel, including anti-Israel bias among international law experts, Israel's existential crises, and Gaza's "day after the war." This interview was held on Sept. 29. Here are our 18 questions: As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history? What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake in its war against Hamas? How do you think Hamas views the outcome and aftermath of October 7—was it a success, in their eyes? What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for? Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy? What role should the Israeli government have in religious matters? Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same? Now that Israel already exists, what is the purpose of Zionism? Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic? Is the IDF the world’s most moral army? If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin? Can questioning the actions of Israel’s government and army — even in the context of this war — be a valid form of love and patriotism? What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today? Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime? What should happen with Gaza and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict after the war? Do you think Israel is properly handling the Iranian threat? Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”? Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People?