The new government, in fact, is trying to restore democracy – by reforming Supreme Court practices that were adopted starting in the 1990s, which allow unelected, unaccountable Supreme Court justices to deliver rulings based on "reasonableness" rather than on written law – often meaning, "whatever I think is reasonable". Israel's Supreme Court is currently said have "virtually limitless power': it asserts the right to veto both political appointments and military decisions; it has no mechanism for recourse, and no requirement for "standing"
The Biden Administration, staffed by many of the same people who were in the Obama Administration, has behaved as an enemy of Israel from day one. The Administration quickly restored US funding to the Palestinian Authority without asking it to stop supporting terrorism or even to stop inciting violence. The Biden Administration then opened a U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs and installed, as "special representative for Palestinian affairs", Hady Amr who has admitted being "inspired by the Palestinian intifada
A few weeks ago, when a key official in Israel's defense ministry was in Washington to request more American support for Israel in case the Israeli government thinks necessary to attack Iran's nuclear program, no answer was given.
Following the November 2022 elections, Israel has been plunged into turmoil. Massive demonstrations both in support of and against the government have been organized for weeks. Ostensibly the demonstrations are concerning a proposed judicial reform bill, but in reality appear to be about retaining or overthrowing the newly elected government.
Some demonstrators want to overthrow of the government and permanently eliminate Netanyahu from Israeli politics. Others, even more, believe he is the best prime minister to lead them through a time when the entire Muddle East, including Israel, is facing the threat of nuclear destruction from a relentless Iran.
It is the first time in Israel's short history that a large-scale movement has been launched using undemocratic means to overthrow a democratically elected government.
It is also the first time that Israeli opposition political leaders, including former military chiefs of staff, have issued calls for civil disobedience and incited IDF reservists to not appear for duty. In a country under constant threat, such a move was considered inconceivable.
Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, in the United Kingdom on March 27, outlined, with no visible shame, his strategy to topple Israel's government, which he incorrectly defined as "basically a dictatorship". For a citizen of a democratic country to go to a foreign country to say he wants to topple his own government could be considered an act of treason. Barak did not even try to hide that those who follow him are a tiny minority: 3.5% of a population, he stated, is enough to overthrow a government.
Yair Lapid, former interim prime minister until December 2022, was in New York in April, to meet the leaders of American Jewish organizations. He also urged the overthrow of Israel's democratically elected government. " You have a voice," he encouraged leaders of American Jewish organizations, "and you have the right to use it."
Sunday, May 21, 2023
Who Wants to Destroy Israel? You Might Be Surprised
It is the first time in Israel's short history that a large-scale movement has been launched using undemocratic means to overthrow a democratically elected government.
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