Can Israel be considered a Democracy?

Indicted Prime Minister (or as some have it “crime-minister”) Netanyahu has three court cases for mega corruption charges before him. Over the last few years, the man has done everything in his power to evade justice. His coalition deals are geared only to that end. He personally chose police chiefs and ministers of justice, to serve that one purpose – keep him out of jail.

Disgust with his corruption combined with Corona-helplessnes and despair have energised anti-Netanyahu demonstrations, of a kind not seen in Israel before. The demonstrations have been taking place on a weekly basis, in front of his residence, his weekend house and throughout the country, for several months. These demonstrations have been grating on Netanyahu and he has been sending his hounds to reign them in. To no avail. 

Netanyahu has now reached the next stage and taking advantage of COVID 19, he is trying to silence the demonstrators. To that end, the country is been subjected to a rigid lock-down and the Israeli cabinet has passed regulations that limit demonstrations to a distance of one kilometre from one’s home: Will only Netanyahu’s neighbours be permitted to demonstrate against him? The health professionals, who advise the cabinet, confirmed that they saw no need for such draconian restrictions – Netanyahu who is panicking – has decided against that advice. 

 

Israel – which considered itself to be a democracy, despite the fact that it never was a democracy for the Arabs under its control – now, no longer is a democracy for its Jewish population.