The huge protests prove that Israel, the region’s only true democracy, is and will remain a strong democracy
Allow me to be optimistic. As the smoke begins to clear the streets of Israel and the raging fury of mass protests subsides, it is time to remind all who have doubted that Israel is strong, and perhaps even stronger than ever.
Let all enemies of Israel know: Hassan Nasrallah and Hezbollah soldiers in Lebanon, Yahya Yesanwar and Hamas operatives in Gaza, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the spiritual leader and President of Iran, the lions’ den in Jenin and even the last of the terrorists, those as “lone fighters”: Israel’s enormous power was not shaken by a millimeter.
So do yourself a favor and don’t test IDF strength. Know that the pilots who have announced that if judicial reform is passed, they will not heed the army’s call, will climb into the cockpit as soon as a real threat looms over Israel. And that reservists, who have threatened not to join their unit if the reform is passed, will be the first to line up north or south to protect state borders. Don’t test the Israeli army.
The small state of Israel is unique. It’s a miracle, nothing less. It is the result of unprecedented determination, old dreams and great love. While police have been able to beat protesters with clubs on the streets of Paris, Israel will launch an independent investigation into a police officer’s use of a flashbang during a demonstration. While civil wars break out and people kill each other in other countries in the region, hundreds of thousands of people demonstrate in Israel for twelve weeks with nothing but the national flag, a mostly handwritten poster and a whistle.
The Israeli government has seriously miscalculated. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Justice Minister Yariv Levin misjudged (to put it mildly) the public reaction to the legislation they sponsored, and they certainly misjudged the strength of the public reaction to Defense Secretary Yoav Galant’s sacking after he called for the legislation action had to be suspended. This isn’t just a miscalculation, it’s much more than that.
One of the strengths of the State of Israel is its ability to recover quickly, for example after a terrorist attack or war. Unfortunately, Israeli reality is pushing residents down this path. It is therefore true that the rupture in Israeli society today is deep, perhaps even deeper than ever. It’s hard to say if this fracture will go away in a few days, a few weeks, even a few months, or a few years. But – and this is a huge “but” – it will eventually close.
You can support or disagree with the protesters, you can support judicial reform, its substance, and you can also oppose it – but you cannot ignore what happened here in 12 weeks, just before the holy days of Yom HaShoah ( Holocaust Day). ), Yom Hazikaron (Day of Remembrance for Killed Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism) and Israel’s 75th Independence Day. The huge protests prove that Israel, the region’s only true democracy, is and will remain a strong democracy.
We are all brothers. Even when we fight, even when we’re angry, even when we don’t talk to each other. And in the face of any outside threat, immediately and without hesitation, we will be more united than ever.