Tzipi Livni tells Jewish News audience: ‘Thank you – Israelis feel they are not alone’
During an event at JW3 organised by Choose Democracy, the former opposition leader thanked British Jews for speaking out against a government that feels it can “do what it wants”.
Former Israeli politician turned protest leader Tzipi Livni has told a JW3 audience in London that the tens of thousands of democracy demonstrators in Israel have been buoyed by similar protests in the UK.
In an evening conversation with James Harding, the former head of BBC News and a past editor of The Times, she described the solidarity as “amazing”, saying: “We in Israel felt that we were not alone.”
Livni, a former minister and opposition leader who set up her own party and almost became prime minister, concluded the evening with a call to come together, saying: “Liberals of the world, unite!”
She was speaking at an event sponsored by Jewish News and organised by Choose Democracy, (Bochrim BaDemocratia), a campaign to mobilise thousands of people across the UK Jewish community “to demonstrate solidarity with Israelis fighting for Israel’s democratic future”.
The veteran politician, who retired in 2019, has made speeches to crowds of up to 300,000 in recent weeks, before an unprecedented general strike brought the country to a halt on Monday, forcing the government to pause its plans.
She told Harding that the issue had originally been about a series of bills designed to strip the judiciary of its power and independence, instead giving new powers over appointments and veto to politicians, who could then “do what they want”.
However, Livni explained to a packed JW3 that it was now more than simply a fight over the role of judges – it was a debate over whether Israel was still a Jewish and democratic state, with equality to all its citizens, without discrimination.
She told the London audience that British Jewish support in recent weeks, including from its representatives, “showed us that we are part of something bigger than just us, bigger even than the State of Israel… This is, we are part of the Jewish people”.
Livni said neither the ultra-Orthodox nor the messianic supporters of a “Greater Israel” wanted equal rights, the former with a view to women and LGBT+ Jews, the latter with a view to Palestinians and Israeli Arabs.
Regarding the Palestinians and the West Bank, she said she felt that the country was being taken down the path to a one-state solution, adding: “If you are for democracy, you will agree not to live in a one-state solution without equal rights.”
Livni said neither the ultra-Orthodox nor the messianic supporters of a “Greater Israel” wanted equal rights, the former with a view to women and LGBT+ Jews, the latter with a view to Palestinians and Israeli Arabs.
“In a way, this coalition represents different interests, but acting against the Supreme Court is the common denominator,” she said. “The declaration of independence, giving equal rights, for them it’s a problem.”
In a lighter moment, she shared how former Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin attended the illicit wedding of her parents the day after independence was declared in 1948, before quoting Begin, just as she did to democracy protesters in Tel Aviv.
“He [Begin] made a speech one day later, just after independence. He was speaking about respecting rights, about the superiority of judges over politicians. He said, ‘justice will rule over its rulers.’ This was the ideology. Land, yes, but also rights.”
Towards the end of the evening, after audience questions, Harding said he was surprised that the quote he would be leaving with was one of Menachem Begin’s, while JW3 boss Raymond Simonson said Livni’s address was “a rallying cry”.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
