'I cried when Begin won': How Gadi Taub left the Labor aristocracy for the Right

Gadi Taub, a prominent Israeli intellectual, has transitioned from a Labor establishment upbringing to become a leading voice on the Israeli Right. Growing up in a family deeply embedded in the Labor aristocracy, Taub recounts crying at age 12 when Menachem Begin won the 1977 election, viewing it as "the end of the world." His shift began with the Oslo Accords, intensifying after the Second Intifada and the 2000 Camp David summit, where he concluded that the Palestinian leadership was not genuinely interested in peace. He became a unilateralist, but subsequent events like rocket fire from Gaza and the Arab Spring further solidified his right-wing views, culminating in his conviction after October 7 that the Left's predictions for Gaza were wrong. Taub is critical of both the judicial system and certain right-wing politicians like Itamar Ben-Gvir, but supports Netanyahu as the most capable leader for national security. He also criticizes the Israeli Left's media for what he calls "a license to fabricate," believing they prioritize educating the public over informing it. Taub, though not religious, emphasizes the importance of preserving the Jewish story for the continued existence of the Jewish people and the state.