OPINION: Israel risks becoming unrecognisable as a Jewish or democratic state

These past few weeks have seen plenty to celebrate for the Jewish community in Britain. Israel marked seventy-five years of Independence. Much of the UK came together to enjoy the coronation of a new King dedicated to saving the planet and defending all faiths.

It is hard to remain upbeat when the vision of Israel’s Declaration of Independence and British values of fairness and free speech are under attack.

Following years of attacking free speech and legislating to limit protest, rushed through regulations and zealous interpretation by the police saw dissenters detained. Volunteers handing out rape alarms were arrested for “conspiracy to commit public nuisance.” Once again, the spotlight is on a recent Prime Minister allegedly breaking the law.

In Israel, the current Prime Minister, once revered as King Bibi, seeks to destroy Israeli democracy. Despite the pause in attempts to eviscerate the Supreme Court, Benjamin Netanyahu and his partners insist they will drive through “legal reforms.”

Desperate to avoid the consequences of his own suspected law breaking, the man who once lauded the Supreme Court as embodying the vibrancy of Israeli democracy now undermines Israel’s future as a Jewish homeland that seeks to be a just, safe, and equal home for all its citizens.

Following the playbook of populists and autocrats, the most extreme coalition in Israel’s history is threatening the courts, the press, freedom of speech, and now civil society organisations.

In the days after Shavuot, Netanyahu’s cabinet will review draft legislation to remove the tax-exempt status of an Israeli organisation that receives foreign government funding, including from Israel’s allies and introduce a 65% tax on their income. Israeli organisations that support the extremist ideology of the current coalition and receive millions of overseas dollars will be unaffected by these plans.

Following the playbook of populists and autocrats, the most extreme coalition in Israel’s history is threatening the courts, the press, freedom of speech, and now civil society organisations.

A similar initiative was thwarted in 2016 after objections from the USA and Germany. Two of Israel’s allies have expressed disdain at the return of this draconian plan. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said “…the United States supports the essential role of NGOs that are part of civil society. We believe that they are critical to democratic, responsive, and transparent government, and we firmly believe that civil society should have the opportunity and space to operate and raise resources around the world.”

The French Embassy in Tel Aviv reaffirmed their “commitment to the critical role of civil society in the life of every democracy, in Israel and throughout the world. It is the responsibility of States to create and maintain a space and environment conducive to their work, for a vibrant civil society can also bring a culture of peace and diversity.”

My colleague and global New Israel Fund CEO Daniel Sokatch summed up the threats posed to communities in Israel: “Netanyahu and his government of extremists want to tax civil society out of existence — especially those working to defend the rights of the most marginalized in Israel and under Israel’s control: women, the LGBTQ+ community, Palestinians living under occupation, and Arab citizens of Israel… Choking off funding from advocates for change is not what democracies do.”

Our community is celebrating the festival of Shavuot and the receiving of our laws and values. Ever since Sinai, grappling with the rules and rule of law, with plenty of room for discussion and dissent, has been central to Jewish life.

If the Israeli government continue to push forward extremist and autocratic plans and policies, Israel will be unrecognisable as either the Jewish or democratic state envisioned by its founders and cherished by so many of us here in the UK.

• David Davidi-Brown is Chief Executive of the New Israel Fund