Israel’s leaders – stand up!

On Tuesday this week, at least four Israeli newspapers were distributed with jet-black front pages under their banner heads. The only words on the page were, “Black day for Israeli democracy.”

Doctors launched a nationwide 24-hour strike, and the country apparently looked like it was in mourning following the far-right-wing Netanyahu government pushing through the first judicial bill, eliminating the reasonableness clause in law.

What this means is that judges are prevented from stopping government decisions that they deem unreasonable. It means that potentially, any apparently unreasonable law passed by the government of the day cannot be overturned in a court of law.

Whether you support the present Israeli government or not, this revised law applies to any government from here on in. So, you may think this government is reasonable and their decisions acceptable, but what happens when you don’t necessarily agree with the government, and you no longer have the wisdom of judges to prevent “unreasonable” laws from being passed. See the problem?

So many Israelis believe that this is just the beginning, and there’s far worse to come that will potentially destroy the democracy that means so much to Israel and the Jewish world.

Some Israelis or olim have changed their profiles on social media to Israeli flags with the two triangles separated, in a personal protest.

The law was changed in the Knesset on Monday despite months of endless national protests calling on the government to stop it, and a massive march from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem over the weekend.

After the law was changed, chaos erupted on the streets of Israel. Highways were blocked by protesters, who defied the water cannons and mounted police. There were many complaints of police brutality, and the water cannons were apparently filled with foul-smelling dirty water. More than 33 people were arrested.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said in an interview on Britain’s Channel 4 on 24 July that Israel was under threat of civil war. Though most people see Olmert’s prediction as an exaggeration, Israelis aren’t happy.

“It’s a sad day,” said Yair Lapid, the leader of Israel’s opposition. “This isn’t a victory for the coalition. This is the destruction of Israeli democracy.”

Benny Gantz, the head of the National Unity party, was quoted as saying, “We may have lost a battle, but we will win the war.”

Sadly though, as long as there’s massive division, nobody is winning any battles. Those who are protesting against what the government is doing are furious. Those who support what the government is doing are angry with the protesters for not accepting what they believe is the right way.

And though there were touching moments where protesters on either side held hands on escalators going in different directions, families in Israel are split over this national crisis.

The country is so divided. And all this is happening on erev Tisha B’Av, the saddest day of our year, when we commemorate the destruction of both our temples and various other tragedies that befell our people. This includes the expulsion of Jews from England in 1290, and the banishment of Jews from Spain in 1492. And it’s documented that both World War I and World War II began on Tisha B’Av.

I cannot say that it is or isn’t a coincidence that it happened this week because I have no doubt that those changing the laws in Israel know exactly when Tisha B’Av is and what it represents to us all.

This week, the leaders of the Jewish Agency, World Zionist Organisation, Jewish Federation of North America, and the world leadership of Keren Hayesod (United Israel Appeal) wrote a letter appealing to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Yair Lapid. These people – effectively the leaders of the Jewish world outside of Israel – called for unity and peaceful coexistence in Israel.

I cannot recall a previous time when external Jewish leaders pleaded with Israeli leaders to get off their high horses fast to solve their crisis.

They appealed to Israeli leaders “on the eve of Tisha B’Av” to find a way to overcome the “great polarisation and discord in Israeli society”, saying, “We must make every effort for unity and shalom bayit [peace in our home].

“On the 75th year of our independence, we emphasise the need and commitment of each and every one of us to our shared destiny, for unity which respects diversity, guaranteeing that the state of Israel will remain a Jewish and democratic state.”

They went on to insist that Israeli leadership put the well-being of the entire Jewish people first and find a way of “moderating the discourse and verbal radicalisation” to “reach agreement”.

Representing world Jewry, they expressed the deep concern of the Jewish people and our aspiration “to strengthen the foundation of our national home”.

They urged Israeli leaders to “make use of the tools available to them” to find the “broadest common denominator for the sake of kiruv levavot [bringing people together] within am Yisrael”.

Then, on 25 July, Ronald Lauder, the president of the World Jewish Congress, made an appeal in the New York Times and other publications in the United States and Israel. He admitted that generally, the Jews of the diaspora “refrain from meddling in Israeli politics”, but said he felt he could no longer do so as “Israel’s future hangs in the balance” and the Jewish state faces “imminent existential danger”.

The “unprecedented events of 2023 are eroding the social compact and endangering national security”, Lauder said, and as a Jewish leader, he could no longer keep quiet.

“As I watch Israel tear itself apart while its enemies grow in strength, I must take a stand and speak up,” he said. He quoted Abraham Lincoln, who said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand,” and went on to say “neither can an Israel divided against itself”.

Lauder claims there are only three men who can fix the situation – Netanyahu, Lapid, and Gantz. He insists they have to bring about national unity by sitting down immediately for a frank discussion of the country’s alarming predicament.

“They must overcome personal interest and political differences so they can form a strong and stable emergency government,” he said, pointing out that they have no choice and must rise to this historic challenge.

I believe this is the only answer.

It’s time for Israeli leaders to get a grip and find an urgent path forward. Netanyahu, Lapid, and Ganz must stop these shenanigans, get around a table, and find a sensible, realistic way forward for Israel that brings the internal battle to an end and unites the country.

Discord and division in the country is only destructive. It doesn’t serve any side or any leader. It’s especially not serving Israel, its people, and the Jewish world. It’s only harming us.

When Israeli police are pitted against Israelis over politics, it’s problematic. Arresting people for what boils down to a difference of political opinion is also problematic.

Israel’s true leaders need to make this work. The solutions won’t make everyone happy. They shouldn’t. They should make everyone happy enough, and still have to accept a little disappointment.

Shabbat Shalom!

Peta Krost

Editor