Israel’s new Justice Minister has introduced a package of “reforms” which, like reforms introduced in all fascist states from Nazi Germany to Orban’s Hungary, will eviscerate the foundations of democracy and rule of law. Primary among the destructive proposals is the “override clause,” which permits the Knesset by majority vote to override any Supreme Court decision. Meaning that any law disqualified by the Court could be reinstated by the legislature. It turns the Court into a body left to enforce traffic tickets.
This is a key element of the fascist agenda of the new government. Hitler passed legislation shortly after the Reichstag Fire granting him sweeping powers to override both the judiciary and the legislature. It entitled him to rule by decree. The new Israeli proposals don’t go that far. But they don’t need to. The far-right has dominant control in the Knesset. Any bill Bibi wants passed will be passed.
There are only two forces he must fear: outside pressure by the US and other states against these draconian proposals; or a mass uprising in the streets. Though both are slowly mounting, neither has enough power to counter the New Fascism. One Israeli columnist I read said that another force for restraint might be the Israeli oligarchs who own 60% of the country’s capital and dominate wide swaths of the economy. But they have never stood in Bibi’s way before. As long as the economy keeps rolling and the profits continue to pour into their coffers, I doubt they will rock the boat.
Another proposal affects the attorney general. She has the power to review proposed legislation and determine its compatibility with Israeli law. She can disqualify any bill impending before the Knesset. The proposal by the new government would only permit her to review legislation. But her recommendation could be ignored by the government.
Also, legal advisors for all ministries are currently appointed independently of the ministers. The former review proposed regulations and determine whether they are permitted. The lawyer may disqualify a proposed regulation. The reform proposal would give ministers power to appoint their own advisors and to ignore any legal finding offered.
— the little prince (@thelitt80824365) January 13, 2023
Now, in the category of Oldies but Goodies, listen (video above) to Bibi “Pinocchio” Netanyahu from a past Knesset TV interview on the importance of an independent judiciary:
There were proposals to expand or reduce the power of the Supreme Court, one of the cornerstones of our democracy. I stopped them! ALL of them! I simply upheld the independence of the Supreme Court. I made a decision. One that is clear: I am a great believer in checks and balances. In restraint on authority. The Supreme Court and the judicial system is one of the three crowns of democracy, of a healthy democratic system. And I will not permit anyone to harm it.
Jewish Taliban: ‘we have only just begun’
Haaretz profiles MK Avi Maoz, founder of the homophobic Jewish Taliban Party, Noam, on his plans for a Judeo-theocratic state:
“Our flag is a single-minded war on Progress. We must change the status quo and ensure that Judaism will fill every corner of the State. Israel will be a state which observes Shabbat in public. LGBTQ families will not be recognized. Women will not serve in the army. Their contribution will be via marriage and raising children. We will not be like other nations who are for all their citizens, God forbid. The values of Judaism are superior to the rights of the individual.
Look, I now have the tools and [government] funding. I came to work. We will clean up public institutions. Trust me, we have patience. This is just the beginning.
This is a frightening version of the old Carpenters lyric: “we have only just begun.” Except that Maoz is not making a promise. And he’s not talking about love as Karen Carpenter was. He’s making a threat and a deadly one.
Be very clear: this is not a drill. This is the real thing. When Hitler stood on the stage at Nuremberg, the world trembled. Though Israel is not Nazi Germany and the Knesset is not Nuremberg, these new proposals are no less significant in Israeli terms than what Hitler proposed there.
They will turn Israel into a Jewish version of Afghanistan. I don’t like using the word “Jewish” because Avi Maoz does not represent Judaism. He represents Talibanism, a fundamentalist creed that is hateful and redolent of oppression. Morality police. Throwing women not only to the back of the bus, but off it entirely. Gays denied medical treatment. Pride Parades declared illegal. Almost all Jews in the Diaspora and most Israeli Jews reject this as any reasonable facsimile of Judaism as they know it.
But these are the new Sheriffs in Town. They make the rules. They pass the laws. As of now, no one stands in their way. They have a clear road to fascism. Will the Israeli people and the world let them take it?
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If Israel becomes that Taleban style country which this article predicts and which is more than likely, what will it mean to the certain anti-Aliyah from Israel? Should the less motivated 1 or 2 million Jews moving to their second passport country or else to western countries to be welcomed? Certainly the majority of them had participated to the transmission and development of Israel at least in the form of not voting for a real democratic option.
Would it be wrong if “we in the west” treated them like they and their fellows in Israel treated Palestinians and non-Jews in Israel?
To make the problem more complicated – what if after this certainly violent nationalistic-religious “experiment” the Jewish voters make a u-turn and make Israel to Palestine where everybody has equal rights and after it 1-2 million violent frustrated religious settlers decide to move to their second passport country or else to western countries? Should they be welcomed?
@ SimoHurtta: The vast majority of those who are or will emigrate will be highly educated tech workers, mostly secular. They are considerably more liberal than the average Israeli. SO I doubt they’re going to export fascism to their new homes. Poor Jews and Palestinians will not be able to emigrate. They’re stuck.
Gantz’s call for mass protests is the right one.
I’m afraid however, that ordinary Israeli citizens will not organize and rise to the challenge.
Perilous times indeed.
Disagree strongly. Civil strife about to start. Buckle up.
No Richard, you’re wrong. You will see a rising up of secular Israel like never before. I don’t want to use a word like civil war, but secular Israel will fight back.
@ Yankel: Ain’t gonna happen. The history of Israel is full of mass movements which fizzled. THere have been so many I can’t remember them all. This will likely be one of them. And I say this not as someone who wants them to fail. Just the opposite.
One of the problems with these movements is that they rise up in opposition to one particular grievance. You can easily pick people off by waving a few shekels or saying a few sympathetic words. Then most of them go home. These movements ignore much more important fundamental problems because there is no consensus on how to tackled them; or because Israelis simply prefer to ignore them.
Hey there Richard – have you noticed that your posts are beginning to be redundant? Perhaps your most often used word is fascist. Or maybe Nazi. And the content and context continue to be “the same old thing.”
I have a suggestion for you: start using AI to write your articles. Stick into the app a few key words and it will do the rest. Program it to churn out a new feature every day or so for the next four years. Then you can go on a well deserved vacation until the next election in 2026, when Yariv Levin, or maybe even Ben Gvir will be elected to be Prime Minister. I suggest you go to Antarctica, it’s quiet there, no radio, TV or internet, that would only push up your blood pressure. Have a great time, ice skating.
@ David Wilder:
Actually I repeat the word “fascist” for thick-headed people like you, In advertising, they say the average consumer is so dumb you have to repeat the product name 27 times before it sinks in. Well you are that dumb average Zionist.
As for “Nazi,” no I use the word sparingly. But I’m not afraid to use it when it’s appropriate. Now, if you don’t like the term, why don’t you tell your fascist friends in Israel to stop behaving like Nazis. Oh and btw, instead of offering meaningless empty bromides devoid of any proof, why don’t you try to dissprove my specific comparisons between Kahane’s “Laws” and Nuremberg Laws? You see, those are clear historical parallels. What you offer is narischkeit. Empty slogans. Your average run of the mill hasbaroid.
When I need a suggestion from you, I’ll ask. Actually, I lied. I’ll never ask.
As for the rest of your comment: blah, blah, blah. YOu like to hear the sound of your own keyboard clicking.
One final warning: if you think you’re being witty or cutting or ironic or satiric–you aren’t. Comments here must have substance and content. Insults and witless attempts at wit are neither. Post something like this again & you’ll be outa here.