The War Between Israel and the Middle East: Implications for the Future of the Religious-Right Coalition and the Fraternal Status of Israel
Demographics are not destiny, but in Israel they could enable a permanent majority for the religious-right coalition that has solidified through the decade-plus of Mr. Netanyahu’s dominance. Secular liberals complain that they are becoming a minority in Israel due to the increase in political conservatism, especially in the Haredi population. According to a survey, 49 percent of Jewish Israelis under the age of 49 agree that Arabs should be thrown out of Israel, compared with 44 percent who disagree.
First, you realize that, despite episodic blowups, these highly diverse, often antagonistic, but deeply intertwined communities have been kept in rough equilibrium since the 1993 Oslo Accords, thanks to a combination of Israel’s security clampdowns, the workings of the Palestinian Authority, economic growth and a whole lot of pragmatic compromises and self-restraint exercised by all sides every day.
But you also realize that a variety of long-developing demographic, technological, political and social changes are reaching tipping points that are stressing all the balances between Jews and Jews, Jews and Israeli Arabs, Jews and Palestinians and Palestinians and Palestinians that have kept this place reasonably stable.
The peace process and prospects of a two-state solution are fading, Jewish settlements in the west bank are expanding, the Palestinian Authority is collapsing and there is a proliferation of social media. In the past year alone, according to B’Tselem, an Israeli human rights group, roughly 20 Israelis and more than 150 Palestinians have died in violent incidents.
The Israeli Defense Forces in a Crize: After 12 Years of Voting, Netanyahu vowed to Reinvigorate the State of Israel
A former CNN producer and correspondent, Frida Ghitis is now a world affairs columnist. She is a weekly contributor to CNN, a columnist for The Washington Post, and a columnist for World Politics Review. The views expressed in this commentary are of her own. View more opinion on CNN.
The governing coalition was formed by Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces a number of charges including fraud and bribe taking and denies any wrongdoing, in exchange for the necessary votes for him.
A key demand was a judicial overhaul that would, among things, allow the Israeli Parliament – the Knesset – to overturn certain Supreme Court rulings with a simple majority vote and to give the ruling parties control of judicial appointments.
The law Netanyahu and his supporters claim is a legitimate effort to bring more balance to a system where the courts are too powerful will not end Israeli Democracy. Some, like President Isaac Herzog, have proposed compromise.
And resist they have. For 12 weeks Israel has seen the largest demonstrations in its history. The streets exploded Sunday night, after Netanyahu fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant one day after Gallant said he couldn’t support the law because it’s endangering the country’s security, creating a “rift within our society [that] is widening and penetrating the Israel Defense Forces.”
On Monday, under nearly unbearable pressure, Netanyahu agreed to postpone the overhaul – which was being rammed through the Knesset – until the next legislative term. The crisis is not over.
Like others, he was implicitly suggesting that if Israel’s democracy weakens, its ties with the US could do the same. There should be more to think about. Most Israelis understand that Israel’s democracy is essential to its identity, security and prosperity.
The law, he said, would allow the government “to completely destroy our freedom.” Harari argues that when the government breaks its commitment to respect the liberties of its citizens, they have a right to resist.
As the sun rose on Monday, it revealed a changed horizon. The country’s main labor union called for a strike. Schools were closed, flights were grounded, even one of the Netanyahu’s lead attorneys said he would no longer defend him if he pushed ahead.
In exchange, Netanyahu agreed to create a national guard under Ben Gvir’s control – a very dangerous idea. Non-violent confrontations could turn into something much worse if a radical government minister is granted a separate militia.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/27/opinions/political-crisis-israel-biggest-lesson-ghitis/index.html
The Counter-Democracy Masses in Mexico, Georgia, and Israel are going Against All Anti-Democratic Metrics
A few weeks ago, I wrote about three countries where the people were pushing back against anti-democratic maneuvers: Mexico, Georgia and Israel. The pro-democracy forces are doing well in all three of them.