OPINION: Seeing Israel’s battle for democracy firsthand is moving and chilling

There is something humbling and chilling about witnessing history in the making. Being in the middle of a 100,000 large crowd outside Knesset with demonstrators chanting “shame!” at the government was one of those moments. 

It’s undeniable that something major is happening in Israel. The entire nation is fighting over the very essence of society’s most important institution: democracy.

It doesn’t matter which side you are on (in my case I was reporting); seeing religious, secular, old people and kids chanting “democracy” with their parents, who had taken a day off from work to protest the government’s judicial overhaul, is truly inspiring.

But it is also worrying. The looming threat of a civil war is constantly being mentioned as a real possibility by some of Israel’s most prominent and high ranking people, including former prime ministers and opposition lawmakers.

Seeing religious, secular, old people and kids chanting “democracy” with their parents, who had taken a day off from work to protest the government’s judicial overhaul, is truly inspiring.

The reason being that the judicial reforms are considered an actual threat to democracy by those believing in a strong, independent Supreme Court.

The anger, frustration and energy felt at mass demonstrations, like the one outside, Knesset shows just how divided the nation is. It takes one mad person to turn change the course of history. The assassination of Prime Minister Rabin in 1995 by right-wing extremist Yigal Amir is the best example of that.

Israel is particularly sensitive to political violence, which is why opposition leaders and the government are warning against any incitement at a time where Israel is facing the worst crisis in its history.

Zeev Raz, a former Israeli Air Force pilot, said earlier this month that Netanyahu deserves to die if he assumes dictatorial powers.

Now this extreme statement comes from a man who led the air force squadron that bombed the Iraqi nuclear reactor in 1981, making him a hero in most Israelis’ eyes.

One can only hope that Israel learned its lesson from the hateful demonstrations against Rabin in 1995, and that the hundreds of thousands of Israelis who are furious with the government’s plan to practically eliminate the Supreme Court will remain peaceful and continue to use demonstrations to fight for democracy.