Demonstrations continue in Israel. According to Israeli President Isaac Herzog, the country is in danger of disintegrating. “The demonstrators are fighting to preserve democracy,” says foreign commentator Jan van Bentheim of Nederlands Dagblad.
Israelis have been taking to the streets in droves for weeks. There are violent demonstrations against Prime Minister Netanyahu’s law reforms. These changes will sideline the Supreme Court, while giving Parliament more say. “The demonstrators fear that Netanyahu will gain absolute power” on the subject. Things are also roaring inside the army now that many reservists are taking part in the demonstrations.
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Netanyahu’s absolute power is dangerous, says Van Bentheim. Because the current government is the most right-wing in the history of Israel. This not only affects foreign policy, but also exacerbates the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. The far-right government will certainly not promote the peace process. There is a good chance that unrest will increase. World leaders like Joe Biden are expressing their concerns, and the Jewish community in the United States is watching closely.
“The far-right government will not promote the peace process with the Palestinian community.”
demographic shift
Although this government is democratically elected, a large section of the population opposes Netanyahu’s radical ideas. Van Bentheim says this is due to the demographic shift. “The liberal demographic is getting smaller and smaller. This explains the shift in power towards the far right.
