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Some people may wonder why Israelis make a fuss about seemingly trivial issues. They may fight to prevent authorities from knocking down a tree or from re-routing a thoroughfare in a certain district. They may exert immense influence in order to prevent a certain square foot of land from being removed from Israeli control. They might make a fuss about the location of a bus stop. They might argue or fight about a single word or sentence in a neighborhood declaration or in a local constitution.
Big deal, you might say. Why make such a fuss? Why bother? A little bit here, a little bit there - who cares? Aren't there more important things in life?
Well, two issues do make all the difference to those who live in Israel:
People can affect the degree of holiness of the country for a very long time to come. We may not have another chance to determine issues about Israel before the coming of the Mashiach. Israelis are excited about the possibilities for the future.
They feel the need to pull in a certain direction, because any aspects or policies that are determined at this stage may remain that way for a very long time. They want to make sure that the country matches their own philosophy.
Different people have different perceptions about the approach to religion in Israel. It is rare to find someone who has no opinion about religion. Everybody wants to pull Israel towards their own understanding of the Zionist or non-Zionist state, the religious or non-religious state, and the combination of religion and Zionism in which they believe.
A similar situation arises with issues relating to the fact that it is a brand new country.
Since Israel is a new country we have a carte blanche. People feel that any facts that they determine can remain that way forever.
For example, even if you move the road just a few inches from the original planned route, that will be the way that it will remain for a long time. It's rare to move a road. Once it's there - that's the way it is.
Today's roads often follow the same route as historic roads. Archaeologists often dig up the planned route of a road before it is paved, in order to learn from the previous route.
If a person can determine the location, the position, the curve, the consistency, or the width of a road, or even how close it is to other buildings, then they have created a permanent situation that is not likely to change at any time in the future. They have made a significant impact on Israel.
Add to these facts the importance, the emotion, the feeling, and the tradition that Israel has for most of its residents, and it becomes clear that everybody has good reason to want to impact on Israel's future.
Now contrast this with the borough of Manhattan, where the equidistant streets are simply identified by numbers. The avenues are placed in an equidistant manner. It does make it much easier to locate your destination. However, there is no holiness or tradition in its arrangement. A change in the direction or location of a street, or a street such as Broadway that cuts a diagonal, doesn't matter very much. It doesn't affect anything significant in a larger and greater plan.
Not so with Israel.
Israelis realize and feel this.
For those reasons...
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