Israel General Discussion: Annus Horribilis

[No War, but the War on Christmas]

A Good-Will Government Was Possible in Israel

Whatever your opinions on Naftali Bennett, and I'm well aware he has said and done some pretty HP things in the past, I will give it to him for at least trying to bring together such disparate voices. It's more than I've seen any other "far-right" type people do in other Democracies.

Interesting Op-Ed and while I'm sure the coalition was imperfect in a myriad of ways... It's sad to see at least some progress being exchanged for the corruption, decay and ruthlessness of Netanyahu and far, far worse voices like Ben-Gvir.

[No War, but the War on Christmas]

How dependent is Israel on the US these days and the good will of its government? Maybe Israel has reached a place where it feels free to tell the US to take a hike.

Do they promise to do so? That's the only way I'd support anything this government did.

[No War, but the War on Christmas]

https://twitter.com/ShnizelInBag/status/1619648748631769088?s=20

[No War, but the War on Christmas]

Since the most right-wing Israeli's are usually the ultra-religious who also don't serve in the military does that mean that Israel's military is actually likely more centrist/center-left than the rest of the country?

[No War, but the War on Christmas]

Honestly one of the best and bravest pieces of journalism I've seen in a minute; it's a terrible situation all around in many ways but the IDF under this far-right government is (even more) out of control and acting with impunity. It's no wonder support for Israel is plummeting in the West and I say this as someone who use to get attacked by more left-wing people for defending Israel as a modern, liberal democracy a few years back but even that's untenable these days.

If the US was serious about human rights advocacy internationally all military aide would be cut asap.

Also, this insanity...

And yes I know the titles over the top, Hasan is just like that, but the actual interviews by Abby Martin are startling. Don't tell me if Arabs said this stuff (and groups like Hamas regularly do!) all the people who fiercely defend Israel wouldn't be hounding about it day and night. And people with these views now comprise the Israeli government.

This situation is so fck!ed on all sides.

[No War, but the War on Christmas]

Israel’s Defense Minister Says Government Should Halt Contentious Judicial Plan
Yoav Gallant, who oversees Israel’s military, is the first minister in Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to criticize a plan to weaken the judiciary. His comments follow fears that weeks of unrest have undermined military capacity.

JERUSALEM — The Israeli defense minister, Yoav Gallant, called on Saturday night for his government to suspend its contentious plan to overhaul the country’s judiciary, arguing that the turmoil it has unleashed within Israeli society and the military has become a threat to Israel’s national security.

“The rift within our society is widening and penetrating the Israel Defense Forces,” Mr. Gallant said in a televised speech. He added: “This is a clear and immediate and tangible danger to the security of the state. I shall not be a party to this.”

Mr. Gallant’s announcement set the stage for what is expected to be one of the most dramatic weeks in Israeli history. The far-right governing coalition of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which has a majority of just four seats, is expected to hold a final vote in Parliament early next week on the first step in its overhaul plan: a bill that would give the government greater control over appointments to the Supreme Court.

The government’s proposal has led to weeks of mass protests, which continued on Saturday night; warnings of political violence and civil war; and unrest within the military, particularly among reservists. Thousands of reserve soldiers have said they would not report for volunteer duty if the overhaul goes ahead, or have already withdrawn from service.

And perhaps most optimistically..

Mr. Gallant is the first minister to break ranks and call for a freeze to the legislation. His intervention raised questions about whether enough like-minded governing lawmakers would now follow suit and prevent the law’s passage through Parliament. Two other governing lawmakers, David Bitan and Yuli Edelstein, swiftly tweeted their support for Mr. Gallant, and a handful of others were also thought to be wavering.

I mean, absolutely good for him, but certainly a government minister coming out and disowning your governments biggest proposals has got to be a kick in the balls for BiBi. What are the chances he retaliates against Gallant... Or does he not care as long as he eventually gets his way? Over the carcass of Israeli democracy and civil society, ofc.

[No War, but the War on Christmas]

Any IDF soldier can detain people in the occupied territories for up to 3 hours based on their own decision? That's absolutely bonkers levels of military law being applied to civilians. And the fact that many of the main thoroughfares of a historically Palestinian city like Hebron are literally restricted from Palestinian travel (forcing them to take much wilder routes, or be harassed at military checkpoints) is certainly unsettling in an 'characteristics of apartheid' type way.

That map is from a group of former IDF soldiers who now speak out against the occupation, btw.

[No War, but the War on Christmas]

תרד עם הדיקטטור! תרד עם בי בי!

Well this escalated fast since I posted that NYT article, all I'm gonna say is that I fully stand with Israeli civil society and Israeli civilians who are protesting the hijacking of their country by religious extremists and bigots. BiBi must go!

[No War, but the War on Christmas]

Yeah that's certainly a twist; and just another example for why any cooperation with the anti-democratic hard-right/religious extremists is always a mistake, that will come back to bite you, as has been proven throughout history again and again.

It isn't possible to build a healthy, modern society on exclusionist values.

[No War, but the War on Christmas]

It's official, the reforms have been delayed as of 3 minutes ago,

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/03/27/world/israel-protests-netanyahu

Although if Otzma gets their little national guard as a permanent fixture and we still get a watered down overhaul down the line, that would imo be almost worst... Hopefully Israeli's won't let down the pressure.

Also funny (troubling?) to look at the pro-government protests and spot all the literal Kahanist gear and shirts. They aren't being subtle about it at all.