The Israel Brief – 20 February 2023– Diplomatic breach at African Union. Mass protests across country. UNSC vote against Israel cancelled. Israeli MK’s in Kyiv.
The Israel Brief – 21 February 2023– First reading of judicial overhaul bill passes. UNSC issues rare statement of condemnation. Israel warns UK of threat to anti-Tehran journalists. Earthquake in Turkey and Syria felt in Israel.
The Israel Brief – 22 February 2023– Clashes in Nablus. Judicial reform updates. Clashes at Wailing Wall. Earthquake off Mediterranean coast.
The Israel Brief – 23 February 2023– IDF strike targets in response to rockets. Ambassador Erdan pens strong letter to NY Times Executive Editor. I2U2 Business forum. Oman opens airspace to Israeli airlines.
While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves. LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).
Creating schisms within Israel and Jewish communities abroad, a government on a warpath with its people
By David E. Kaplan
Opening the papers each morning solicits a groan followed by the moan. It’s crazy but this government is set to undo all the good work built over the years.
The shekel is sliding and money is exiting, and soon people may too! This is a country that traditionally encourages Aliya (immigration); but its new government’s policies may lead to Yerida (emigration) – of both people and purse. As reported in The Times of Israel, bank officials believe some $4 billion moved out of Israel in recent weeks!
Headlines today in The Jerusalem Post February 22, 2023, reads:
‘As shekel slides, PM rejects call for gov’t oversight on interest rates”, and underneath in even bigger font and in bold, a warning that “Judicial change threatens minority rights”.
I could have taken the news headlines any day of the week for the last seven weeks, and all would have been as disquieting. What makes it even more distressing is that it is all of our own making. For a country priding itself on being SMART, this period will go down as STUPID! Does this government want to be responsible for Israel’s proud image of Start-up Nation to turn to Wind-down Nation?
Seemingly oblivious to the warning signs or obvious dangers, Netanyahu’s coalition purposely pursues collision.
Talking Heads. Opposition Yair Lapid (l) has proposed that President Isaac Herzog (r) set up a commission to examine the matter of judicial reform. (photo OLIVIER FITOUSSI/FLASH90)
And in that it has been worryingly successful:
It collided with the country’s State President, Isaac Herzog, who made a reasoned desperate appeal to take time out and pause the process for dialogue and compromise. The President’s warning of “a powder keg about to explode” solicited from the Justice Minister, “I won’t stop for a minute.”
It collided with the BANKERS that have warned Finance Minister Smotrich that judicial shakeup is causing economic fallout. Reported on Channel 12, Uri Levin, the CEO of Israel Discount Bank, is said to have expressed at a meeting that “The shekel is growing weaker, Israel’s risk factor is rising and our stock exchange is doing worse than others around the world.” Levin’s concerns were reportedly supported by other top bankers with another participant reportedly saying that “money is leaving Israel at a rate ten times higher than usual.” And what was the reaction? Smotrich reportedly dismissed the warnings and accused the bankers of having double standards. This is not normal; this is lunacy.
It collided with Israel’s Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara, who has ordered the Prime Minister to not get involved in the controversial overhaul of the country’s judiciary due to a conflict of interest stemming from his ongoing corruption trials. So the PM lets his coalition cohorts bulldozer the process along and he pretends mum because “I can’t get involved.”
It collided with Israeli major retailers. Over 50 CEOs of major retail chains and companies in Israel called for a compromise amid concerns over the government’s proposed changes to the judicial system.
It collided with over 460 ex-Shin Bet agents urging Likud agriculture minister Avi Dichter warning that the proposed legislation is a ‘coup’ against democracy. Among the signatories were three other past directors of the organization – Carmi Gillon, Ami Ayalon, and Yuval Diskin. They wrote: “We turn to you and ask — do not lend your hand to moves that threaten the foundations of the democratic regime, the unity of the people, and national resilience.”
Overall, Dichter Supports Overhaul. Minister Avi Dichter ignores letter signed by hundreds of former Shin Bet security service agents urging the former chief of the agency to not back the government’s plan for a drastic overhaul of the judiciary, warning it will threaten the foundations of Israel’s democracy.
it collided with seven Israeli Nobel laureates who warn that scientific excellence can only thrive in democratic nations with full freedom. “This isn’t a small change,” expressed Nobel Prize laureate for Economics Kahneman in an interview. “It’s a huge revolution…. that changes the nature of the country from a working democracy to something that is not a democracy, that is pretending to be a democracy.”
it collided with its overseas allies including USPresident Biden who in a statement to The New York Times, Biden said, “The genius of American democracy and Israeli democracy is that they are both built on strong institutions, on checks and balances, on an independent judiciary.” Building consensus for fundamental changes, he cautioned, is “important to ensure that the people buy into them so they can be sustained.”
It collided with one of the most vociferous supporters of Israel abroad, the eminent jurist, Prof. Alan Dershovitz who says he’s been a student of Israel’s Supreme Court for over half a century and that it is key to the Jewish state’s battle against propagandists claiming it is not a democracy. He warns that the institution “should be kept out of the realm of partisan politics.”
It collided with major Diaspora philanthropists who warn that judicial overhaul threatens Israeli democracy. Fifteen leading donors and charities, including Birthright’s Charles Bronfman, say they are “deeply concerned’ by government’s plans and strongly urge dialogue.”
Urging Dialogue. Charles Bronfman seen here speaking at a Taglit-Birthright event is among 15 major donors and charitable foundations, urging PM Netanyahu to enter into a dialogue on the proposed judicial reforms recommended by President Isaac Herzog.
It collided with Jewish leadership in the USA. Departing from the tradition of reticence on Israeli politics, the Jewish Federations of North America – one of the largest and most prominent Jewish institutions in North America – warned the Israeli Prime Minister against his government’s plan to legislate an “override clause” that would allow a 61-seat Knesset majority to overrule Supreme Court decisions. “Such a dramatic change to the Israeli system of governance will have far-reaching consequences in North America, both within the Jewish community and in the broader society,” the group said.
it collided with much of the people of Israel who are taking to the streets in ever increasing numbers to protest not because they lost an election but because they fear losing democracy. One marcher’s placard summed up the sentiment:
“For Sale: Democracy. Model: 1948. No brakes”
Hi-Teck in Hi-Gear against Government. Workers from the tech sector protest against the government’s planned judicial overhaul. The signs say, ‘No freedom, no high tech,’ and ‘Tech workers protest.’ Tel Aviv, February 7,
Although the legislative process is well on its hasty way, it is still not too late to seek dialogue and reach a compromise to prevent an unnecessary and irreparable rapture of Israeli society. As we approach Independence Day in April and are reminded of the value of solidarity and wise leadership over 75 tough and turbulent years, let us be guided by our State President who has suggested not a halt but a pause to find a judicial compromise.
Ridicule rather than Respond. This government unwisely choses to ridicule rather than respond to these mass protests.
Is that too much to ask when one considers what is at stake?
I am reminded of the Prime Minister’s superb book ‘A PLACE AMONGST THE NATIONS’, where Israel – against all the odds – stupendously succeeded in this quest.
It would be a shame to lose it in the heart of our people!
Model Behaviour. Displaying their commitment to Zionism and the State of Israel, protestors against the government’s judicial overhaul carry while marching in Tel Aviv, a huge model roll-out of Israel’s 1948 Declaration of Independence. (Photo: Tomer Neuberg, Flash 90)
While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves. LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).