A cavalier approach?
On 13 February 2023, J-Wire published an opinion piece by Ruthie Blum entitled: “Three Jewish Funerals and an Israeli Hate-Fest”.
Whilst decrying the return of terror on Jerusalem’s streets, Ms Blum draws an ill-conceived and more than unfortunate connection to the protests occurring in Israel against new laws proposed by the present government.
The protesters do not wish to see a reduction in the protection of minorities in Israel. They oppose the elimination
Ruthie Blum
of judicial review of laws that are inconsistent with Israel’s Basic Law, and they oppose permission for the government to appoint as ministers, persons convicted of crimes and who have lied to Israel’s courts.
The support for these protests is broad and deep. Contrary to Ms Blum’s assertions, these protests are not limited to Israel’s far-left. Nor can they sensibly be described as a “public tantrum”. No less than President Herzog has observed that: “There are a million citizens here who view the reform as a substantial threat to Israeli democracy.” Would Ms Blum be so cavalier as to dismiss that observation? One would hope not.
The hundreds of thousands engaged in these protests (let alone their supporters who are not out on the streets) wish to secure civil rights for a just and egalitarian Israel based on Israeli law and Jewish tradition.
That position is publicly supported by luminaries such as Matti Friedman, Yossi Klein Halevi and Daniel Gordis, all of whom are ardent supporters of Israel in the media and across the world, and none of whom could be described as far-left.
Creating intersectionality between the protests with acts of terrorism is incredibly divisive.
Ruthie Blum has most certainly picked the wrong target and her divisive comments fuel, rather than douse, the fires that are being lit against the Jewish people.
Co-written by David D. Knoll AM and Brian Samuel OAM, Co-Presidents, Union for Progressive Judaism, Helen Shardey OAM, President, Australian Reform Zionist Association
The violence is part of an ongoing saga and is caused by Palestinian rejection of Israel. I can’t see how the Israeli protests or the plans to alter the judicial system of appointing judges has anything to do with it.
The writers parrot the line of the Israel Religious Centre, a fundee of NIF. They cannot be taken seriously. Bibi won the elections and his team has the democratic right to implement its policies. The High Court’s ruling violate the separation of powers; it is elitist, post-Zionist and dictatorial interfering in matters not related to law. It rules favour Arabs over Jews. It is self-electing and over rules the Knesset. Its rulings are unreasonable and its readings of Basic Laws are based on its political prejudices.
Mr.Lewis
is quoting “might is right ” without the protection for minorities. There is no doubt reform of the court system is needed . A genuine Gov. that is democratic ,would have a review,recomandetions and discussion.then legislate. NOT dictatorial rule fueled by corrupt polies.
The judiciary in Israel has greater power than any other judiciary in the world. The judges are not appointed by government or elected but when someone retires from the bench then the group of judges already there appoint whom they want. Where is the democracy in that? Surely at the very least the govt should appoint the judges because the govt in Israel is democratically elected. This govt in Israel was elected by the people of Israel. The fact that it is right wing and may not suit the writers is irrelevant to the fact that they are democratically elected. Obviously that is what the majority of Israelis wanted.
Just what I would expect from those whose usual issue is the lack of Reform presence at the Western Wall. The protesters (inciters?) represent themselves. I know of two families of protesters who are extremely well off and extremely “entitled” and contrast that with my own Israeli family who are not wealthy, who don’t feel it’s their right to rule everybody like the High Court does, who helped the Likud Coalition obtain a majority, MAJORITY, in the election. They are not protesting. They mourn those murdered (mostly religious – which is an underlying negative motive in the those protesting) and maintain a sense of proportion. They are not “entitled”. They are the majority of Israelis who get on with their lives and expect to be governed by those they elected. Ruthie Bloom is right.