‘Tell me am allowed to hate, tell me my hate makes me great, and I will follow you’, the vibe of insecure, humiliated, approval seekers everywhere.
Leaders who greenlight violence, glorify dominance and romanticize a mythical past where the nation was still strong are very appealing to those who feel humiliated by life, who were left unsatisfied, The Gvirs, Trumps, Netanyahus need the masses who feel life delivered less than they deserved. Leaders who tell them: ‘It’s not your fault, it’s their fault’ are magnetic to those who feel like losers, but can never admit they feel ashamed, stuck, rejected.

In America they may be the pick-up truck proletariat or the money chasing city slicker with no social field to nurture him/her. In Israel it’s overambitious, overly proud, spoilt, boys and girls who can’t handle the pressure of a global virus that says you only matter if your follower count is big enough, if your muscles are big enough, if your job title is impressive enough, if your academic credentials carry enough prestige, if your start-up is raking in enough shekels, if your partner is hot enough. It’s the survival of the slickest, the most polished, the most performative.

That creates such an explosive build-up inside that allowing it out in the form of hatred and loud misplaced pride feels practically orgastic mixed with quasi religious fervor.

Only the strongest do not succumb to the hypnotic appeal of ‘I too can finally dominate!’