Are the anti-regime change protests helping? (Today is the 206th day of the Netanyahu/Ben-Gvir/Smotrich/UTJ/Shas government) | December 29, 2022

 

                                                 Human Chain Protest This Morning Old City, Jerusalem

Just got back from the "human chain" demonstration from the Old City to the Knesset. It was 33 degrees (91F) near the Jaffa Gate by 10 AM.

"Do you think all these protests will make any difference," we ask each other.

Regardless, we have no option but to protest. Whatever happens, my conscience has to be clear.

Either we lose and wind up with an Israel where a pure majority dominates, or we end up strengthening the principle that democratic values trump majoritarian control.

The Netanyahu-Haredi-Hardal camp argues: "We won – let us enjoy the fruits of victory."

But they want to exploit their four-seat Knesset majority to impose – not "judicial reform" but – their unenlightened vision upon Israel. Their Israel is illiberal. In their Israel, ultra-Orthodox/socially conservative values would dominate popular culture, education, media, and the public square. 

We say that to fundamentally change the rules of the political game, you need to hold the equivalent of a constitutional convention, not exploit a four-seat Knesset majority.

So where are we now?

I have never seen Israel this divided since I made Aliya. Both sides feel they are engaged in a zero-sum game.

And the person who brought us to the precipice of catastrophe is Binyamin Netanyahu.

I wish him good health. When he underwent anesthesia last night to implant a pacemaker, he left Justice Minister Yariv Levin as Acting Prime Minister.

The lengths to which Netanyahu has gone to stay in power are unpardonable. I gave up on him when in 2011, he released 1,027 terrorists from prison. Many had blood on their hands. The worst of them went on to restore Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza and the West Bank. But Bibi -- a master manipulator --changed the subject. 

In building his current coalition, he appointed ethno-pyromaniacs, groomed messianic fanatics, empowered convicted criminals, and raised inciteful demagogues to sensitive ministries. He gave the keys to the kingdom to rabid ideologues Justice Minister Levin and chair of the Knesset Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee Simcha Rothman. 

What now? Later this afternoon, Big Capital and Big Labor may decide whether to call for a general strike if the government insists on proceeding with a vote on the first phase of its regime change putsch.

This is not a simple left-right or religious-secular divide. It is a fundamental disagreement about what kind of Israel each camp wants. 

I pray Netanyahu comes to his senses before the damage he has wrought is irreversible.