In March, as debate raged over the Israeli government’s proposed judicial reforms, President Herzog warned that the country was on the verge of “civil war”. Since then, the rancour has worsened.
The street protests have increased; this week’s march to Jerusalem was, by a large margin, the biggest such gathering ever seen in Israel. Opinions are not merely polarised.
There is a poisonous atmosphere now in Israel, with both sides becoming ever more entrenched and dogmatic. From the diaspora perspective, whatever view one takes of the proposals, it is impossible to see what is happening in the land we love and not weep. Now more than ever, compromise is vital. The stakes could hardly be higher. These are historic times for Israel and not in a good way. Decisions and actions taken now will determine its future.
The government says it has every right to push ahead with further reforms after Monday’s vote (which removed the so-called reasonableness test), because it is formed of a majority of MKs and thus has democratic legitimacy.
