Israel continues to be consumed by the political battle over judicial reform despite a series of several recent security confrontations. None of these latest events have shaken the resolve of each side to the judicial change movement.
When the extreme right-wing National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, pressed the long-standing Tel-Aviv District’s Police Commander, Ami Eshed, to resign on Tuesday because he was not restricting the activities of the protesters, huge demonstrations occurred during the subsequent two nights. Ben-Gvir, entrusted with many matters of national security, decided to demote a long serving police commissioner. Eshed had maintained safety and security throughout long months of protest; proving democracy works. To objective observers, the subsequent elevation in the series of confrontations only proved its failings and intensified the fear of violence.
This week’s escalation of demonstrations followed on the heels of serious national security incidents and violent reprisals over the previous weeks. The Israeli military undertook its most significant confrontation with Palestinians on the West Bank since the second intifada. In a 44-hour “raid” on Jenin, the IDF sought to clear out major terrorist cells that were operating there and remove major assorted weapons caches that Palestinian groups had been stock-pilling. Undoubtedly, Israel had tracked these terrorists for some time and these weapons facilities were known to Israeli intelligence. One cannot but be a bit curious as to whether the timing of this military move was in part motivated to distract angry Israelis within all political camps from the recent Palestinian murder of four Israelis near the Israeli West Bank town of Eli, the violent settler revenge against the Palestinian villages, and the public uproar that it created. The Jenin action also served to divert public attention from the increasingly negative publicity continuing to be generated by the on-going Netanyahu trials.
Despite these recent events and the turmoil they precipitated, most Israelis—especially the protesters—realized that Prime Minister Netanyahu, nevertheless, was moving ahead with the judicial reform legislation in the Knesset. The proof of the extent to which much of the Israeli public has remained focused on the planned judicial reform was clear by dint of the intensified demonstrations continuing in Tel Aviv as well as in other cities.
There are other signs that are becoming apparent daily beyond the failure of the Netanyahu-led Government to reset its legislative agenda. Despite holding an elected majority in the Knesset, the Government refuses to accept the fact this coalition is tearing apart Israeli democracy. Aside from the already recognized economic consequences visible in the decline in investment monies—both domestic and especially foreign—as well as the devaluation of the Israeli shekel, Israel is losing more and more support from large segments of Diaspora Jewry. Bibi may believe that all of this will return after a brief hiatus or should Israel face a major crisis, it just might not be the case this time. This extremist Israeli Government is playing with fire in its political arrogance and ideological/religious/Messianic zealotry.
Finally, and not least, the perceived undemocratic behavior of the Israeli Government is only succeeding in fanning the escalating flames of anti-Israel and anti-Semitic feelings which are growing world-wide. Positive sentiments for Israel were always predicated not only on strategic interests but also on shared democratic values. Some people are suggesting—including Netanyahu—that the recent upraising is France was fueled by anti-Semitism. Similarly, the recent success of a delegate from the extreme right-wing AfD Party in Germany, registered a major concern about the success for this growing minor party.
Netanyahu’s failure to receive an invitation to visit President Biden, followed by Washington’s decision to host Israel’s President Isaac Herzog, is clear evidence of the dissatisfaction of the White House with the conduct of Israel’s current political leaders. Netanyahu’s subsequent decision to proceed with a visit to China is at best a snub at Washington, regardless of the number of disclaimers that Bibi has made.
The U.S. and Israel’s joint efforts to move the Saudi Government to joining the Abraham Accords and/or seek ties with Israel are on hold for the time being. This adds additional concern for Israel’s economic growth.
While Israel’s strategic relationship with Washington does not appear to be affected at all by recent events, the domestic events in Israel certainly do not make for increased pleasantries. With the Israelis continuing to wave a flag of concern over Iran’s growing nuclear developments, it might have behooved an historically astute politician like Netanyahu not to have let so much have rolled out of control. In a matter of just over six months, since Bibi re-assumed power in Jerusalem, it is hard to believe that anyone could have predicted that he would have taken Israel to such a serious existential moment.
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