From The Hill, “The Knesset, Israel’s parliament, on Monday approved a key part of the controversial judicial reforms backed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. … The judicial reform bill has sparked controversy and protests across the country as critics labeled the move as a threat to democratic values. The changes would allow the government to overrule Supreme Court decisions and give the executive branch more power to appoint justices. … [Movement for Quality Government] group said in a statement that the measure is ‘unconstitutional’ because it ‘fundamentally changes the basic structure of Israeli parliamentary democracy and the nature of the regime, while de facto abolishing the judiciary and seriously damaging the delicate fabric of the separation of powers and the system of checks and balances in the State of Israel.’”
Hmmmm. Who could have predicted this? I wonder. Who predicted that Netanyahu’s retreat from pushing these “reforms” through in March was only a delay tactic to enacting his dictatorial legislation later once tensions died down? Who also predicted that the mass protests in March would not be sustained with enough force to prevent this judicial overhaul? Who predicted that Israelis would lose their democracy when they re-elected a criminal, authoritarian prime minister? Who? Oh, yes. It was me! While Israelis — to their credit — have and continue to protest the hell out of the issue, it was never going to be enough because the real protest is supposed to happen at the ballot box, not in the streets. (Although, I am all for showing up in the streets and shutting sh*t down as the Israeli protesters have ably evinced.) But it could never be maintained. Sure the armed forces protested in March in solidarity with the movement. Indeed, large swaths of the economy shut down in March, from trade unions to government ministries to shopping malls to ports, airports, and McDonald’s. That, of course, did not happen in July — predictably. If there is one thing dictators can count on is that people will eventually give up. And — except for those still in the streets — most Israelis willingly (with their votes) gave up their democracy. This is happening worldwide, a more significant problem to which people are entirely oblivious. But that’s a topic for another post. For now, suffice it to say Israelis are getting the government they deserve and desire. Do you know who else weakened and then eventually took over the judicial branch of government when he first came into power? Hitler! The irony is uncanny: The state that was literally created in the wake of the Holocaust is following in the footsteps of the Third Reich! You can’t make this sh*t up! Welcome to stupid, stupid humanity!