JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Israeli’s stormy political climate has led to five elections within three years. Yet despite the deadlock finally being emphatically broken, with a 64-man fully right-wing coalition for the first time in three decades, the tempo of the political rhetoric has merely grown more acerbic, more raucous and more incendiary.
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The storm was already simmering when the government was sworn in but it was officially unleashed after Justice Minister Yariv Levin announced the much-needed judicial reforms which the government intends to carry out. Most of these reforms are simply to reassert the power of the Knesset, which has been heavily eroded by an over-active and highly politicized court system which acted as a sovereign fiefdom of its own within the government.
In no Western country do judges have the prerogative of choosing their peers and in no country can they strike down basic laws passed by the government on amorphous claims of “lack of reasonability.” The High Court of Justice systematically rejected all conservative attempts to stem the liberal tide regarding issues of gender definition, religion in the public sphere and land disputes in Judea and Samaria. The court automatically reflected the views of the extreme left-wing while constantly ignoring the government’s right-wing bent.
The collision course has been inevitable since former Chief Justice Aharon Barak orchestrated a legal coup and passed a pseudo-constitution in 1992, defining the basic laws which would be utilized selectively to protect the rights of Arabs, LGBQT and migrant workers while at the same time allowing 10,000 people to be thrown out of their homes on spurious claims of political expediency.
Barak, realizing that his legal legacy is about to be demolished, went on a blitz of media appearances in which he fulminated against the new reforms. However other left-wing elements were even more radical. Former deputy Chief Of Staff Yair Golan, ejected from the Knesset after his party failed to cross the electoral threshold, called for “civil rebellion” and made other ominous threats of sedition. Opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz were quick to pour oil on the fire. Gantz on Monday accused Netanyahu of “leading toward civil war,” Lapid urged his supporters to take to the streets as part of a “war over our home,” while former Chief of Staff and Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon urged the police chief to defy the orders of National Security Minister Ben Gvir.
Demonstrators carried pictures of Levin in SS uniform and made horrendous comparisons with the Nazi regime. Others unfurled Palestinian flags and conducted protest vigils outside Levin’s house. All demonstrators decried the “illegitimate” new government led by “criminals” despite its representing a majority of Israeli voters.
Right-wing leaders, astonished at the level of vituperation and incitement, reacted angrily. Jewish Force MK Zvika Fogel called for the arrest of the four opposition leaders accusing them of “treason against the state” and saying they “are the most dangerous people right now.” Fogel was roundly condemned by the other political elements in the coalition, but it is clear that the Israeli left-wing is taking the election results to apocalyptic, January 6th-style extremes. Cool heads must intervene and put out the flames if Israel, still existentially threatened by many different enemies, is to survive and continue to thrive in the coming years.
J Street Soros money pouring in.
Having read the last sentence, as currently written, I can say the author is mistaken even if everything in the opinion piece would be correct. If Israel “ is to survive” will not be determined by decisions by humans, Hashem (G-d) will decide, not human beings and especially not politicians. That doesn’t mean those who care about the millions of our brethren living there shouldn’t make our hishtadlus, of course, but we should do so fully aware that especially when it comes to national and international issues Hashem runs the world.
Leftists are dictatorial – my way or the highway kooks all over the world. No difference between them and American ones. They push abnormal agendas and want to force citizens to obey. They’re angry insane liars to boot and they’re getting money to burn.
Same antisocial behavior we saw here in the states in the Pacific Northwest. Typical leftist, communist tactics.
USA has taken over Israel’s politics. Just wonder how much of the unrest was fermented by Biden and the socialist democrats of America
The left in Israel has only 2 options:
Either to win an election by cheating a la Naftali Benett, or by not conceding their election loss.
The Lapid Gantz opposition has more and more a flavour of sedition.
I am fearful about Israel.
Wokeness, tolerance, civility, law and order, taxes, when the left is in power.
Call for civil war, all means justfies the end, lawlessness, prosecution of law enforcement when the righ is in power.
The left and center have every right to be nervous . They know that halacha is very discriminatory against women and other groups , and don’t want it enforced on them . The religious right should proceed with caution , or they can find themselves in a civil uprising, or even a civil war .
The left is the group of civility.
Courts aren’t democracy. Freely elected offfcials enacting laws are the ones that determine democracy. Countries like Iran, Russia etc. all use judges to hide behind ruthless killing of protestors and others. They conduct sham trials etc. Don’t gte me wrong there is a place for a court system but the freely elected reps need to define the law. That’s democracy. And as Judy points out, if they get too out of hand the left will vote them out. Thats the idea behind democracy.