Gideon Levy on the Six-Day War

From the military point of view, it was indeed a "glorious" war, which was seen as justified.  But it was also a war that generated a fundamental transformation in Israeli society.  It led to the growth of unbridled national arrogance, which exacted an awful price in blood over the past 50 years and turned the military victory into a moral defeat.  In retrospect, it should be called the 50 Year War, not the Six-day war, and judging by the political situation, its life expectancy appears endless.

I think most Israelis will be quite indifferent.  It is a society in denial.  It is a society totally preoccupied with private affairs.  No one but the settlers will celebrate.  But, also, no one will mourn.  In that respect, Gush Etzion is the right place to mark it, because only settlers will feel the day.  In Tel Aviv, people couldn’t care less and no artificial effort by the government can change that.

~ Gideon Levy, Haaretz, April 7, 2017

(As quoted in The Guardian, "The six-day war: why Israel is still divided over its legacy 50 years on," May 20, 2017.)