Is Israel Facing the End of Democracy?

 Is Israel Facing the End of Democracy?

Rabbi Boaz Heilman

July 28, 2023

The familiar saying is that where there are two Jews there are three opinions. When it comes to understanding Israel and Israel politics, this truism needs to be multiplied several times over. The problem is made worse by the fact that in Israel, political discussions only have two volume settings: loud and yelling. 

Still, the street demonstrations that have been taking place in Israel since the elections last year are historically unprecedented. The declaration by hundreds of army and air force volunteer reservists that they would refuse calls to stand to duty is disturbing. Similar threats were made by health professionals, business, hi tech and other groups. 

The demonstrations, covered widely by the media, highlight not only the disagreement over the central issue—the judicial reforms that the Netanyahu government is pushing through at breakneck speed—but also other social fissures: Ashkenazi vs. Sephardi, Orthodox vs. secular, rich vs. poor, liberals vs. conservatives.

In recent weeks, as hundreds of thousands have taken to the streets, various individuals and public figures have seized this opportunity to chastise Israel, calling the situation the end of Israel’s democracy—and in fact the demise of the State we’ve always known and loved.

While I do not see things in this bleak light, I do recognize that there are worrying aspects to the changes now being formulated.

For one thing, the newly elected K’nesset shows a cultural shift from the previous Ashkenazi majority to a new Sephardi majority. Mizrahi Jews—Jews from northern Africa and Arab countries—who in the past were often relegated to second-citizen status—are now finding themselves in positions of power and are not hesitant to wield this new-found political clout. Add to this the rising number of ultra-Orthodox voters—a phenomenon that, due to natural growth, is not about to change any time soon—and what you see is a rise of conservative views and votes.

The question of the meaning of a Jewish State has always been hotly debated in Israel. And while it is true that many secular Jews in Israel know little about Jewish texts and rituals (the focus in the mostly secular public education system has been on math, science and other fields vital to progress in the modern world) there is a huge difference between adding Torah study to the general curriculum and a law proposal now on the table that would recognize full-time Orthodox Torah study as equivalent to military service, with all the pursuant social and economic benefits. 

The additional powers given to the Ultra-Orthodox parties in the new government also mean a more conservative outlook on other important issues such as women’s rights, reproductive freedom and LGBTQ rights.

Until not long ago, Bibi Netanyahu’s popularity in Israel has been unquestioned. However, in addition to his many ongoing legal woes, a recent health scare that necessitated sudden hospitalization and implanting a pacemaker, have led to the rise of a new cadre of leaders within his own party, the Likkud. What some see as Netanyahu’s addiction to power is without a doubt a major factor in awarding powerful cabinet positions to right-wing extremists such as Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, as well as several other openly homophobic and misogynistic individuals.

One of the challenges that Israel faces today is the fact that Israel has no constitution. Instead, it has 13 “basic laws” upon which much of the judicial system is founded. One of these is known as the Reasonableness Standard, which gives the Supreme Court power to overturn rulings made by the government. The decision to repeal this law is behind the massive street demonstrations we’ve been seeing over the past few weeks. However, in itself this particular case is only the first in a series of judicial struggles that will be coming up in the near future, and in the next few months we will undoubtedly be seeing continuing efforts to find compromises between the governing coalition and the opposition. 

In any case, despite what we hear in the mostly liberal news media, and despite warnings coming from the White House, the current situation is not the end of democracy. Rather, it is democracy in action. We may not agree with the opinions expressed by one party or another, but that does not mean the death of the State as we have known it. Israeli voters have the power to vote the current leadership out—and will undoubtedly exercise this right at the first opportunity. This is how democracies—for better or for worse—work. As Winston Churchill said, “Democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time….”

Some interpret the popular street demonstrations as a sign of Israel’s weakness. However, if that were true, Israel’s neighbors would not hesitate to use this perception as permission to attack Israel. The fact that they are not doing so is evidence of Israel’s political and military strength. Iran and its puppet militias Hamas, Hezbollah and the Islamic Jihad are acutely aware of this fact. And while the stated refusal of volunteer defense forces reservists to report to duty is unsettling, I don’t think anyone seriously believes that if the need—God forbid—arises, they would not in a heartbeat come to the defense of the State of Israel. 

When Israel’s President Isaac Herzog addressed the Joint Meeting of Congress last week, he rightfully pointed to the United States’ historical bi-partisan support of, and friendship for, Israel. He thanked the US for this partnership, while acknowledging the criticism that has been raised by some members of Congress. At the same time, however, he also correctly assessed the current situation, stating: “As President of Israel, I am here to tell the American people… that I have great confidence in Israeli democracy. Although we are working through sore issues, just like you, I know our democracy is strong and resilient. Israel has democracy in its DNA.”  

While most American Jews find ourselves gravitating toward the more liberal goals of the socio-political spectrum, we must not lose sight of the fact that we and Israeli Jews are brethren, members of the same family and people. While we may disagree with some of Israel’s policies and decisions, we must also be careful not to take sides with those who deny its right to exist. Many of us today are of a generation that did not live through the Holocaust or experience the challenges that accompanied the creation and ongoing survival of the State of Israel. We sometimes take its existence for granted while dismissing the extent of our neighbors’ hatred for Israel. And even as anti-Semitism continues to rise in the US as well as elsewhere around the world, we often fail to understand the connection between this historic hatred and the legal and existential ramifications of calls to dismantle the State of Israel.

Israel—and the Jewish People as a whole—have always faced, and overcome, challenges both large and small. We will continue to voice our opinions, no matter how conflicting these may be. But we must never lose sight of the fact that our survival is not something that we can take for granted. Our dependence on the friendship and support of the United States is vital, no less than our concern with the disturbing social and political trends we are witnessing right here, at this moment, in American life and history. We must never give in to pessimism or fatalism, but rather continue to be politically and socially active as we strive to make our homes, nation and the world a safer and better place for all.  

We pray for calm and compromise to return to Israel’s streets and civic life. We pray for peace in the region and around the world. Adonai oz l’amo yitein, Adonai y’varech et amo bashalom—May God grant us strength; may God bless us all with Shalom, with peace. Amen.

© 2023 by Boaz D. Heilman