Netanyahu Blinks

Following weeks of massive protests, Binyaman Netanyahu has delayed voting on a bill in the Knesset which would allow him to take over the judiciary.

There are a few reasons why this has engendered such vehement protests, Likud has stapled itself to the right wing, and Israelis who are not inclined to live a Neanderthal lifestyle fear the loss of protections, but the main reason, I think, is that this is such a blatantly corrupt attempt by Netanyahu to stay out of jail, because he is as guilty as hell of corruption.

The protests have been extensive, with over 70% of the population opposing these changes, and elements of the military, particularly in the reserves, openly opposing this move.

Netanyahu's attempts to maintain his power, and prevent his and his wife from going to jail knows no bounds.  He would destroy Israel in order to save himself.

I would argue that there has not been such a clear present danger to the existence of Israel since 1948, at least.*

One word is heard more often than any other on the streets of Jerusalem these days: democratia, or democracy.

About 100,000 people sang, shouted and banged pots and pans outside the Knesset building on Monday afternoon, many carrying Israel’s blue and white flag. The demonstrators were tired; some had been up all night.

But after three months of unrelenting public pressure, the biggest protest movement in Israeli history achieved its goal: the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, finally announced a halt to his far-right government’s judicial overhaul weakening the supreme court in a televised address on Monday evening.

………

While leftwing Israelis and Palestinians have levelled criticism at the movement for defending the supreme court, which plays a major role in upholding the occupation of the Palestinian territories, the mobilisation of huge swathes of what is usually a highly polarised society is nothing short of remarkable.

Demonstrations that began in central Tel Aviv on cold and rainy Saturday nights in January, just after the new government entered office, have evolved into a mass movement unlike anything Israel has seen before.

On Monday, the 12 weeks of sustained protest culminated in a general strike across the country that closed hospitals and nurseries and grounded flights at Tel Aviv’s airport.

………

The strikes followed a night of unprecedented protests sparked by Netanyahu’s decision to sack his defence minister for opposing the judicial plans, and they build on significant pushback against the government’s plans from the military, Israel’s vital hi-tech sector and allies in the US.

………

Proponents say the changes are needed to curb the powers of the supreme court, which plays an outsized checks-and-balances role in a country with no formal constitution and only one legislative chamber.

Proponents are medieval ultra-orthodox Jews who want to enforce their way of life on everyone in Israel.

They can no more be accommodated or  negotiated with than can the Talibaptists in the United States.

It is not lost on anyone that the proposals could help Netanyahu in his corruption trial, in which he denies all charges. Critics of the move say it will undermine democratic norms and the rule of law, allowing the far-right elements of Netanyahu’s coalition to press ahead with draconian measures limiting the rights of minorities, women and LGBTQ+ people.

………

Much of the Israeli public, jaded by the endless electoral cycle, did not see the threat from the far right coming. In office, Netanyahu’s partners have proved unpalatable to the majority of the country.

The Haredim already lead unproductive lives largely subsidized by the secular majority.  Now, they want to dictate the lives of the people who support them in the life-style that they have become accustomed to.

^*Netanyahu is a clear and present danger to the State of Israel.

Please note that I am not calling him a רוֹדֵף (rodef), literally a pursuer, which would mean that we are required under Halacha (Jewish law) that a רוֹדֵף (rodef) be stopped by any means necessary, including lethal force.

It would be irresponsible for me to call him a רוֹדֵף (rodef).  It would be irresponsible for anyone to ANYONE a רוֹדֵף (rodef).

It is an explicit call for the murder of another individual.

Do not call him a רוֹדֵף (rodef). It is wrong to call him a רוֹדֵף (rodef), even if Netanyahu tacitly endorsed such statements against Yitzhak Rabin before his assassination by a religious extremist.

Also calling him עֲמָלֵק (Amalek) is right out.