SUNDAY STEP, 2.4.2023 by journalist Victor Isaac Eliezer
The Declaration of Independence of the State of Israel symbolizes the establishment of the state in 1948 and enshrines in the clearest way its Jewish character and its democratic state that respects the rights of all citizens regardless of color, race, religion or gender.
One of Israel's greatest assets in its 75th year was the sense that it still retained its moral ground. It was still this small country that was fighting the enemies that had surrounded it to wipe it off the map and yet, it found a way to thrive.
To the world, Israel has always had a powerful narrative. It is the story of an ancient people who had returned to their historic homeland and against all odds not only survived, but persevered and thrived, despite suffering culminating in the Holocaust. The Jewish people created a vibrant democratic society that was diverse, multicultural and innovative. Israel had to fight often for its existence and for the safety of its citizens, but even so, it was a country that did not waver. The democratic character of the state was indisputable and non-negotiable.
Over the past 12 weeks, Israel has been plunged into chaos and despair as a result of the rapid enactment of laws that upset the existing balance between the legislative, executive and judicial powers, with hundreds of thousands of Israelis from all walks of life protesting in the streets and with a negative economic and political impact on the country.
Different positions can be debated in political debates, but this is not a political debate – it is a struggle for the very soul of the Jewish state. Complete control of the Judiciary by a government carries the risk of an irreversible split in the Jewish people.
A non-democratic Israel will no longer be part of the family of democratic nations. So this is a battle for the democratic nature of Israel, for its character and identity.
The answer to the argument of the supporters of the ruling coalition in Israel, that since they won the elections they can implement their judicial reform, is contained in the report of the Israeli intellectual Isau Leibowitz, (1903-1994): “There is no greater distortion of the term 'Democracy' than the assumption that the majority is competent to decide values. What is the difference between a dictator who decides what is good and what is bad and the many people who decide that? We argue that a dictator is diabolical and stupid, but any man can be diabolical and stupid. This means that a majority of people can be a majority of evil and stupid people, so the inner meaning of Democracy is not in the power of the many, but in the system of limiting and controlling the powers of power, regardless of whether it is the power of one or the power of the many".
The Israeli writer and academic Yuval Noah Harari points out that "what this government is doing is not judicial reform, it is an anti-democratic coup. Coups don't always happen with tanks in the streets. Many coups in history have been carried out behind closed doors with pen and paper, and by the time people understood the meaning of what was written on those papers – it was too late to resist... Sixty-one members of the Knesset [the 120-member Israeli parliament ] they could pass any racist, oppressive and undemocratic law. Democracy is an agreement, according to which citizens must respect the decisions of the government, provided that the government respects the basic freedoms of the citizens. When a government tries to establish a dictatorship, the citizens are allowed to resist."
In a few days, the Jews of the whole world celebrate "Pesach", that is, the "Passing" of the Jewish people from the slavery and injustice of Egypt to the path of freedom and justice in the land of Israel. At the time of the "Telling" of history, we have our eyes fixed on Jerusalem. It is a time of reflection, reflection and dialogue, with the wish and hope that freedom and justice will continue to be the pillars of the modern state of Israel.