IS IT TIME TO QUIT ISRAEL?
Contrary to what Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu has been saying, the situation in Israel s not about “minor judicial changes”, nor is it an attempt to bring Israel “back in line with what is common to all democracies.”
The Judicial “Reform” is also not about Us vs. Them or Left vs. Right.
The situation in Israel is about about the Ultra-Right fanatic faction of the government that is abusing it’s power to push through an extreme agenda, to the detriment of all Israeli citizens.
The situation in Israel is about Bibi Netanyahu and his cronies enabling these extremists and allowing them to alter the face of Israel, to the detriment of all Israeli citizens.
It is imperative that people understand the underlying story…
Part One: Setting the Stage
Six weeks ago I returned from a business trip. I took a cab ride back from the airport late at night.
“The situation is crazy here”, the driver said as soon as we started moving.
“You protesting?” I asked.
“Yes,” he replied, “But not for your side.”
He was darker skinned and wearing a kippah.
“But you don’t know what side I’m on,” I stated.
The driver mumbled an apology.
“Why are you protesting?” I pried a bit.
“I don’t think judges should choose themselves.”
I said calmy “I think you are missing the bigger picture. Do you have daughters?”
“Two.”
“Do you know how many laws are currently on the table that will directly affect their freedom?” I asked.
“I don’t really get in to that kind of stuff”, he stated.
“Eight. There are eight laws that I know of that will have an immediate negative impact on the lives of your daughters. You should read them. They are all public. And without an independent supreme court they will have no protection.”
I pressed a little bit more and asked him: “Are you Ashkenazi?”
“I’m Mizrachi”, he said.
“Do you know how many times, in all of the clauses of the coalition agreements, they mention supporting the Mizrachi community?”
“I don’t know”, he said.
“Zero. You are never mentioned once. There is no mention of social welfare support, cost-of living support, economic assistance, help to the periphery. Nothing. They are lying to you and using you.”
He didn’t reply, and I felt guilty. We rode the rest of the way in silence until we reached my flat.
I stepped out of the back seat and he stepped out of the driver’s seat. He popped the trunk and handed me my trolly.
And then he shook my hand.
“I am glad I met you,” he said.
“I apologize if I was harsh,” I replied, “I didn’t mean to attack you, I just think this government is screwing us all over.”
“I have some thinking to do.”
“You can believe in whatever you want,” I said, “Just do it with your eyes open.”
Part 2: The Situation
Very recently, the Israeli Knesset passed legislation that would prohibit the Israeli Supreme Court to review the “Reasonableness” of governmental decisions. With this legislation, the Supreme Court may no longer null administrative decisions that are deemed “extremely unreasonable” beyond the scope of what a responsible governing authority would undertake.
The “Reasonableness Clause” has far reaching implications, but it is just one piece of the Judicial “Reform” that is being rammed through by the right and extreme-right members of the majority coalition in the Israeli government.
In order to stay in power, Bibi Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, formed a coalition with far right extremist parties. These extremist parties are abusing their new power, and Bibi’s vulnerability, to alter Israeli society and push through legislation that is discriminatory, hostile, and economically destructive.
How do we know this? Because they have all stated so, many times, across many mediums. They have proposed dozens of laws, on public record, that clearly spell out how they plan to make Israel a Ultra-Nationalist theocracy lacking equal rights, with blatant discrimination and open hostility to Palestinians and Arab Israelis.
The recent budget they rammed through transfers hundreds of millions of dollars from productive and necessary sectors of the economy to unproductive and even counterproductive sectors.
Hundreds of millions will be removed from education, welfare, economic growth engines, and health, and will go instead to the Ultra Orthodox, who largely do not work, do not pay taxes, do not serve in the IDF, are blatantly hostile to women and the LGBTQ+ community, and refuse to educate their children on the basics of math.
Hundreds of millions will be transferred to the Ultra-Nationalists who destroy any last wisp of hope for peace with the Palestinians and harm the stability of the whole Middle East, and abuse national resources to cause violence in the West Bank.
Which brings us back to why the Reasonableness Clause is important. It is one of the very few checks on legislatures, and would potentially strike down these laws based on discrimination.
The fear of the Israeli populace is: Why kill the Reasonableness Clause unless you want to do something unreasonable…
This is also why the vast overwhelming majority of Israelis do not support the Judicial “Reform”, as shown in every single poll. Over 20% of Israeli citizens have participated in a protest at one time or another. That is equivalent to 70M Americans.
Israelis, Jews around the world, and everybody else need to understand that every citizen of Israel will be harmed by this Judicial “Reform”. Netanyahu and other right and ultra-right wing cronies paint this as with broad gaslighting strokes as Us vs. Them, Ashkenazi vs. Mizrachi, Privilege Elites vs. the Common Man, Secular vs. Religious. This is a lie. The truth is that the ramifications of the Judicial Reform affect all Israeli.
The real story of the Judicial “Reform” is ultra-right extremists and their enablers vs. the entire country.
Part Three: Now What?
So now Israelis, and Jews, and maybe even the World, must decide what kind of country Israel will be. Will it be a democratic and ethical country that respects the differences of its citizens and participates in the global economy? Or will it be a Women-Hating, impoverished ,backward-thinking outcast that promotes discrimination, racism, and violence?
The vast overwhelming majority of Israelis prefer democracy and equality. That is why we are in the streets. The people who are protesting are there to maintain equality and respect for all the various flavors and colors of Israeli life, across the entire political and religious spectrum.
Over the short term, there are basically three camps that people fall in to, and I can understand the justification for each path.
Give up
One option is to say: I’m Out. Some people believe: if the ultra-extremist want to live in a broken country with no economic resources where everybody lives in poverty, ignorance, and forced subjugation then it is their problem.
I understand why people feel this way, but the vast majority of Israelis do not have the financial resources nor foreign passports to leave. And the scary increase in Antisemitism across the globe leaves very little options for where Israelis, and Jews, can live without being harassed.
In addition, cronies of the current Netanyahu government are adding significant fuel to the Antisemitic fire. The horrific perspectives of people like Smotritch and Ben Gvir give justification to Antisemitic and Anti-Israel sentiments.
Wait it Out
Another option is to just wait it out. Netanyahu’s coalition has already proven to be incompetent when it comes to handling the practical administrative and operational aspects of managing a country. Therefore, many people believe that because of the incompetence, Israeli voters will simply oust the current government in the next election.
There is justification to this perspective. The government has already proven that they are causing material damage to the economy, risking the Israeli high-tech sector (which the entire country is dependent on), damaging international relations, dismantling critical social services and welfare, failing to address socio-economic issues, and even ruining the environment.
Also, there is a sense that the political situation in Israel has galvanized the populace to action, from the streets to the ballot boxes. For example, in mid June The Israel Bar Association held their internal vote for Chairman, pitting the centrist Amit Becher — who opposes the Judicial “Reform” — against Netanyahu-backed Efi Nave — a convicted criminal with a well documented history of flagrant sex scandals. Bachar won by an overwhelming landslide (28000 votes for Bachar, 7683 for Nave) in an election that saw unprecedented turnout.
Fight
The third option is to continue fighting, using whatever means necessary, to protect all Israeli citizens from the extremist elements of the government. Proponents of this viewpoint believe that waiting until the next election risks causing irreparable damage and it will be too late to fix anything.
The challenge with this is the fatigue of the populace. Sustained resistance takes a massive toll on the populace and their families, and tears apart the fabric of society. It requires continuous mental and physical effort and the unyielding support of the masses to be effective.
Part Four: What Should I do?
It is not the time to quit Israel.
This country is filled with brilliant, resilient, creative people across all spectrums of life. Giving up does not solve anything by definition. And waiting carries a heavy risk that some of the horrible policies of the ultra-extremists in the government will start to become entrenched.
Therefore the only solution is to fight.
But winning this war for the sake of the country requires the involvement of all of us, across many different channels.
Here is how you can help:
→ Control the Narrative.
Netanyahu and his cronies are on a hard-core gaslighting world tour, trying to convince everybody this is a cultural war. Unfortunately there is an incredible amount of ignorance, on both sides, and therefore, it is important to always focus on how this affects ALL citizens.
A poor economy affects all Israeli citizens. The Eight laws will harm all women, left and right, secular and religious.
→ Participate.
Keep protesting, everywhere in every country. Sustained non-violent rebellion works. It has been over 6 months straight of weekly protest. In all of these protests there have been ZERO reported incidents of looting, vandalism, or damage to public properly. ZERO law enforcement people have been injured. Anybody who tells you otherwise is purposefully lying to you.
These protests keep the story in the headlines, which is critical. It also is important to show the world that contrary to the ultra-fanatics in the government, the vast overwhelming majority of Israelis want democracy and equality. The protests are the counter-narrative to Antisemitism.
→ Vote.
Vote every chance you get. The more local, the more your voice matters. Municipal elections are coming up in Israel soon, and the Judicial “Reform” has severe implications on Israeli municipalities (hint — more transfer of financial resources to ultra-extremists)
→ Maximize Social Media.
Keep posting, keep sharing (a “like” is not enough). Tag everybody you know, from both sides. Tag politicians in your country, tag organizations, tag journalists, tag Israeli celebrities (who have been suspiciously silent). Share this post if you want.
Much like in the US and Europe — far right crazies speak loudly, which means the silent majority needs to up the volume.
→ Pressure Jewish Organizations.
I am sick and tired of these email blasts from Jewish organizations about how they are “disappointed” and how we need to “unify” and “pursue justice and peace”. I get it, but spare me the platitudes. I am waiting for the moment when one of them actually takes concrete action.
Put pressure on these organizations to do a gut-check on where their philanthropic efforts go — and to direct their philanthropic efforts to areas that promote democracy and equal rights for all Israeli citizens.
→ Shame and Dox.
They play really dirty, and sometimes you have to fight fire with fire.
Part Five: Denouement
Do not lose hope.
There is still time and there is still a lot that people can do. But do it. Even the current legislation to scrap the Reasonableness Clause has a long way to go before it is ratified. But time is running out. Do whatever you can.
For me that means protesting and writing and speaking as much as possible — specifically in English to get the word out as widely as possible.
For you it could be whatever you feel comfortable with. But at the very least educate yourself on what is really going on and how it affects your life and your ethics.
Believe in whatever you want, just do it with eyes open.
