"Israel of the coastal plain, where eight out of ten Israeli Jews live far removed from the occupied territories, from the fiery Jerusalem, from the religious and nationalistic conflicts, is unknown to the outside world, almost unknown to itself"

Amos Oz’s words draw a distinction between two different Israels: the recognizable Israel, known abroad for its conflict, religious fervor, and historic cities, and the lesser-known Israel of the coastal plain, a different reality shaped by quiet daily life. Eight out of ten Israeli Jews reside in this coastal strip, encompassing cities such as Tel Aviv, Herzliya, and Netanya. These are urban hubs with bustling business districts, vibrant nightlife, and an energy reminiscent of European or Mediterranean cities. Here, many Israelis are geographically and psychologically distant from the epicenters of conflict, the occupied territories, tumultuous Jerusalem, and the religious or nationalist tensions that dominate headlines.

The life in the coastal plain is marked by normalcy: people go to work, dine in cafes, attend concerts, raise families, and argue about issues that concern urban dwellers everywhere, housing prices, education, public transport, or the cost of living, more than the politics of occupation or religious matters. For most outsiders, Israel is synonymous with conflict, soldiers, and sacred places, but this everyday reality of café culture, entrepreneurship, and cultural pluralism often remains invisible. Oz suggests that this gap in perception is not only external; Israelis themselves in the coastal plain may not fully grasp the social and political gulf between their lives and those of citizens living closer to the country’s frontiers of conflict.

By saying this Israel is "almost unknown to itself", Oz hints at a collective denial or unconsciousness. Israelis of the coastal plain, wrapped in relative safety and secularism, may pay little attention to, or actively ignore, the ongoing struggles elsewhere in their country. The result is a complex national psyche, shaped by contrasting experiences within Israel’s own borders. This rift mirrors global phenomena, where populations in peaceful, economically thriving cities live parallel but separate lives from others in crisis zones within the same nation. Oz’s reflection invites readers to consider both the diversity and the disconnect within Israeli society, as well as the limitations of external perceptions.