Recently, Israeli elites have been discussing the "Curse of the Eighth Decade," sensing the impending collapse of the State of Israel. They base this on religious prophecies and a historical pattern observed in previous political entities on the land of Palestine, which collapsed in their eighth decade.
Interestingly, some within Hamas have also echoed this sentiment, relying on prophecies that predict the demise of Israel in the eighth decade, albeit from different perspectives and interpretations than those of the Israeli elites.
This raises several questions: What is the "Curse of the Eighth Decade" among the Jews? How does Hamas view it? Are there real-world indicators that suggest Israel's end is near? What are the religious dimensions of this narrative? And do the outcomes of the "Al-Aqsa Flood" point to the imminent end of Israel?
Here, we seek to find answers to these questions to uncover the truth behind the "Curse of the Eighth Decade." It is widely believed that this curse stems from a historical narrative agreed upon by historians of Jewish history. This narrative asserts that the Jews, throughout history, managed to establish two political entities in Palestine, both of which collapsed upon reaching their eighth decade.
Former Knesset Speaker: “By abandoning democracy and disregarding human values, Israel is hastening its own demise”
The first entity emerged around 1000 BCE, the Jewish Kingdom, which lasted for about 80 years under the reigns of David and Solomon, peace be upon them. After Solomon's death, this kingdom began to fragment and eventually disintegrated. By the start of the eighth decade, it had split into two parts: the Kingdom of Israel in the north, with Nablus as its capital, and the Kingdom of Judah in the south, with Jerusalem as its capital. Neither lasted long, as they both fell to the Assyrians and then the Babylonians.
The second entity was the Hasmonean Kingdom, which emerged around 140 BCE. As it entered its eighth decade, chaos engulfed the kingdom, leading to its downfall.
The Curse of the Eighth Decade
Throughout history, these were the only two independent Jewish entities in Palestine until 1948, when the Israelis once again seized Palestinian lands to establish their current state. As the current Israeli entity entered its eighth decade, religious figures, particularly rabbis, and political and intellectual elites began predicting the imminent demise of the State of Israel.
Despite media campaigns led by various Israeli outlets mocking the "Curse of the Eighth Decade," whether it was mentioned by Jewish rabbis or Muslim scholars, the obsession with survival and fear of Israel's collapse has continued to haunt the entire nation. Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak has been one of the most vocal figures on this curse, consistently warning that internal division and rampant hatred are the real threats to Israel's survival.
The "Curse of the Eighth Decade": A Collective Feeling that the State Was Founded on Injustice and Oppression and Will Face Destruction
Jewish historian Benny Morris believes that Israel has no future because Arabs outnumber Jews in the area between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. This demographic reality will eventually lead to Arab dominance in Israel, reducing Jews to a minority and spelling the end of the Jewish state.
In his book "Defeating Hitler," former Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg argues that by abandoning democracy and disregarding human values, Israel is hastening its own demise, comparing the state to Nazi Germany.
Jewish rabbis have consistently warned of this curse, convinced of its inevitability. They believe that the lifespan of the Jewish state is 76 years according to Torah prophecies. Ancient texts from Orthodox Jewish rabbis state that the last leader of the Jewish state will be "Atatullah," which in Hebrew means Netanyahu! This belief has created a hidden conflict between the rabbis and the Israeli media machine.
While these views are prevalent among Israeli elites, Muslims have been more optimistic about this curse that has plagued the Israeli state. The late thinker Dr. Abdulwahab Elmessiri predicted in 2008 that Israel would collapse within 50 years, worn down by the relentless Palestinian resistance until it eventually disintegrates.
Similarly, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the founder of Hamas, in April 1998, firmly stated that Israel would perish in the first quarter of the following century, specifically in 2027. He based this prediction on the idea that generations change every 40 years according to the Quran. The first generation was the generation of the Nakba, the second generation was the generation of intifada, challenge, and fighting, and the third generation will be the generation that sees the end of Israel.
In the same vein, the spokesperson for Hamas' military wing, Abu Ubaida, declared on October 28, 2023, that the era of the invincible army was over, that the current battle was a decisive one in the history of the nation, and that the era of Zionism's decline had begun cursing their “Eighth Decade". He urged the Israelis to return to their Torah and Talmud to read this well and to await their demise with bated breath. Does this indicate that Hamas believes Israel is on the brink of collapse and that it is better to attack and bring it down rather than let it collapse on its own?
A Collective Sentiment
The "Curse of the Eighth Decade" among Israelis reflects a collective sentiment that the state was founded on a basis of injustice and oppression and that this foundation, no matter how long it lasts, will eventually lead to its downfall. The successive generations will magnify the demands and change the methods used by the rightful owner, posing a threat to the usurper. The historical injustices that occurred may no longer be convincing to the third generation among the usurpers.
Muslims and the Resistance Should Focus on the Causes of Israel’s Demise Rather than the “Curse of the Eighth Decade’’
For Muslims in general, it represents hope for the demise of Israel. For Hamas, it is a pressure card used to weaken and exhaust Israel, especially since the state is psychologically affected by this curse. Perhaps the resistance chose the timing of the "Al-Aqsa Flood" not out of belief in this superstition, but to exploit it.
Practically speaking, Muslims in general, and the Palestinian resistance in particular, should not be preoccupied with the "Curse of the Eighth Decade." Instead, they should focus on the causes of Israel's demise, which have begun to surface following the "Al-Aqsa Flood." Israel is currently experiencing a state of weakness and internal division, with signs of rebellion led by extremist rabbis. Calls for the dismissal of ministers and the government are growing louder every day, and there is a growing sense that Israel is no longer the safe homeland it once was, leading to half a million Israelis leaving the country, according to The Times of Israel.
Moreover, the consequences for Israel after the war will be catastrophic, sparking an internal political conflict fueled by a volatile social environment and surrounded by comprehensive economic challenges.
What better scenario could Muslims hope for than this, as they need to put in extra effort to reach the point where this entity collapses? They must fulfill their duty to support the oppressed in Palestine, and the nation must unite against the Jews, rather than siding with them as is happening now.
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