Voice of the Jewish News: This is not ‘reform’, it’s revolution
We haven’t blocked roads or been water cannoned, but we have shouted. ‘Save Israeli Democracy’ sounds dramatic, but it is no understatement.
When former prime ministers, chiefs of staff, spy bosses, fighter pilots, reservists, tech entrepreneurs and approximately half the population forcefully oppose what you’re doing, you’d imagine it would give pause for thought.
When former heads of the IDF, Mossad, Shin Bet and the police accuse you of “promoting legislation while completely ignoring its damage to Israeli democracy”, and of “negating basic values held dear by Israeli society, tearing the nation apart, disintegrating the IDF and inflicting a fatal blow to Israel’s security”, you’d imagine it would give pause for thought.
When allies such as the UK and the United States start talking about how they’re allies because of your shared values, not least in the importance of democratic norms and about how countries need “a robust system of checks and balances”, you’d imagine that, too, would give pause for thought.
@jewishnewsuk Our Editor, Richard Ferrer, talks through the feeling of love and concern that led to the blacked out front page this week. #israel #israelis #jewish #jewishnews #israelitiktok #israelipolitics #netanyahu #bibi #democracy #jewishlife
Alas, there was neither pause nor thought this week, when hot-headed Israeli lawmakers belonging to the parties in the governing coalition (the opposition boycotted it) couldn’t vote fast enough to strip Israel’s Supreme Court of the power to review the reasonableness of Israeli ministers’ decisions.
Why? As Sir Mick Davis writes in Jewish News this week: “It is an attempt by extremists who have a hold on this government to gerrymander the constitution to enable them to do extremist things.”
Did anyone order a dose of perspective? No one is saying at outright ‘no’ to any judicial and constitutional reform. On the contrary, most of the millions of protesting Israelis would be likely to agree to small and sensible changes. But these are neither sensible nor small. They are seismic and they eviscerate the country’s independent judiciary, removing the one remaining check and balance to prevent unbridled government power.
How? Because Israel does not have a written constitution, nor does it have a two-chamber parliament.
This is not “reform”. It is revolution.
This newspaper has always worn its blue and white with pride. Over the past 29 weeks, we have worn it in support of those waving their flags on the street or at the airport. We haven’t blocked roads or been water cannoned, but we have shouted. ‘Save Israeli Democracy’ sounds dramatic, but it is no understatement.
Unlike some on the left, we do not see the passing of Monday’s law as the end of Israeli democracy – Israel has been a buoyant democracy for 75 years and will be so long after this government has become a bad memory.
The scale, scope, and composition of these demonstrations are unprecedented in the country’s history – and for good reason.
Unlike some on the right, we do not see the protesters as “a bunch of leftists”. The scale, scope, and composition of these demonstrations are unprecedented in the country’s history – and for good reason. The danger to the state cannot be overestimated, not just because of the laws themselves but because of their impact on Israelis.
Still, we remain hopeful. In particular, we hope that Mr Netanyahu remembers his priorities. Keeping this odious coalition together is less important than overseeing the fundamental fracturing of Israeli society – and of Israel-diaspora relations.
At the very least, you’d imagine it’d give pause for thought.
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