ISRAEL (IINO)
Into the fray: Obviating elections Martin Sherman
If the so-called “champions of democracy” succeed in obstructing the judicial reforms, democratic rule will be replaced by mob rule — and Israel will be teetering on the brink of an Orwellian dystopia
MAR 24, 2023, 7:28 AM – The starkest indicators [of erosion of democracy] which presumably underlie the country’s downgrading in international democracy ratings, involve elite decisions about rejecting election results – James N. Druckman, Professor of Political Science, Northwestern University, Misperceptions, Competition, and Support for Democracy, p. 24, Dec 2022.
If the copiously funded mob succeeds in compelling the Israeli government to back away from its much-needed policy of reigning in the rampant legal establishment in general, and the unbridled judiciary, in particular, it will be the end of an era in Israel.
Blatantly absurd
For if they succeed, democratic rule will have been replaced by mob rule, in which a highly motivated and abundantly financed minority can impose its will on the elected majority and compel it to abandon a policy, which in the elections, it pledged to implement. In this regard, the accumulating signs of the government buckling under the relentless pressure of the increasingly raucous and unruly street demonstrations are profoundly perturbing.
What the war against judicial reform is really about | Caroline Glick Show [1:15:53]
Mar 21, 2023 – To understand what stands behind the protests from both a social and programmatic perspective, Caroline’s guest this week is Dr. Yoram Hazony, author of “Conservatism: A Rediscovery,” president of the Herzl Institute and founder of the NatCon movement. Hazony and Caroline discuss the development and transformation of the left in Israel over the decades and its ties with progressives in the U.S. and Europe.
In her opening remarks, Caroline discusses Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s decision last week to cast true compromise to the four winds and put forward a “compromise” that aligns perfectly with the views of the legal fraternity led by Supreme Court President Esther Hayut.
Ruthie Blum: This is the Israeli culture war [1:01:44]
Mar 23, 2023 – In this week’s episode of Top Story, JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin speaks with JNS columnist Ruthie Blum about the ongoing fight over judicial reform in Israel. Blum says the point of the pushback against the reforms isn’t just to topple Netanyahu. They’re also attacking his voters. She characterized the battle over the issue as one that wasn’t solely one about religion but also about class and income and to ensure that Israel’s working class and religious voters are shut out of power indefinitely.
But Blum insists that the good news is that “They are in a minority, whatever they say, despite having almost all the media in their corner, despite having all the academics in their corner, and all the good, beautiful people in their corner and the actors and singers, they’re still in the minority. And we proved that on election day.”
Watch this episode if you want to know what really is going on.
Israel prepares for ‘Day of Paralysis,’ widespread judicial reform protests
There are expected to be marches as well as widespread disruptions nationwide as thousands of people protest against the judicial reforms.
MARCH 23, 2023 – Israel will be participating in its fourth “Day of Disruption” on Thursday, but this time under a different name: “National Day of Silence.”
Marches as well as widespread disruptions nationwide are expected as thousands of people will continue protesting the judicial reforms.
According to protest organizers, there will be several events under the title “#2024,” which will aim to show what Israel will look like next year if the judicial reforms are passed in full.
The following events are expected to take place throughout the day on Thursday:
- 8 a.m. – Demonstrations of parents and children will take place at various central locations throughout the country. At the same time, there will be “Declaration of Independence signings” in which protest participants will sign mock versions of the Israeli Declaration of Independence. These will also take place nationwide. This will be followed by a demonstration outside the conference center in Airport City where Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Avi Dichter and Economy Minister Nir Barkat are expected to hold a meeting.
- 10:30 a.m. – Hebrew University students will hold a protest march beginning at the Givat Ram campus.
- 11 a.m. – Members of Tel Aviv’s hi-tech sector will demonstrate outside of Sarona market. At the same time at Tel Aviv’s Entin Square, Tel Aviv University students and faculty members will begin their protest march. There will also be a general march on Tel Aviv’s Kaplan Street.
- 12 p.m. – A Handmaid’s Tale performance will be performed on Tel Aviv’s Kaplan Street. Also at this time, students and staff from the Weizmann Institute in Rehovot and Jerusalem’s Azrieli College of Engineering will hold their own demonstrations. In addition, a tent will be set up on the border of Ramat Gan and Bnei Brak in which medical professionals will foster conversations about education and the workforce, “in the spirit of Maimonides.”
- 7 p.m. – Demonstrations will be held in Bnei Brak
