Israel once enjoyed the title of being the only democracy in the MENA region, but now as the
Knesset has voted to ban citizen rights of freedom of speech and assembly when it comes to the actions of the Israeli government, Israel is continuing the slippery slope to dictatorship and fascism. I know that some may find my implication of fascism as offensive and insensitive given the atrocities against Jews and other peoples that occurred at the hands of fascists, but the term is accurate for describing the direction in which Israel is headed.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines fascism as "
a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition." The second paragraph of the NY Times article (see link above) describes how the defenders of this bill consider it necessary in order to fight against Israel's current global delegitimization. This certainly sounds like exalting the nation above its people and there is no question that the state of Israel already exalts race above the individual. This new law will forcibly suppress opposition, which already occurs in the West Bank, but will now be a part of life in Israel. I would also suggest that there is also economic and social regimenting that occurs at certain levels in Israel. I don't think Israel has a dictatorial leader yet, but it doesn't seem far from attaining this fascist characteristic.
 |
| Police and IDF gathered at demonstration © Chad Card |
The Knesset now has made it possible to continue settlement building in the West Bank without vocal opposition. They have just written themselves a free pass to continue illegal acts in peace and quiet. I'm sure there are some Israelis who will not pay attention to this law and will continue to defy it. I am also sure that the Palestinians will continue to vocalize their opposition to the acts of the state of Israel against them. I hope the Knesset is busy building more jail space, because that is what will be needed if this bill is not overturned by the Supreme Court of Israel.
 |
| © Chad Card |
 |
| © Chad Card |
I recently shared some pictures of Israeli protesters in Jerusalem, who gather every Friday in demonstration against the settlements and wrongful eviction of Palestinians from their homes. I am honored to have been able to witness this type of integrity among Israelis. I am also saddened that these people, who know what is right, will face fines and jail if they continue to vocalize their opposition to these injustices. If a people doesn't have the right to speak out against the actions of their government, they have lost any control they might be able to wield in that government. When that happens, the door for authoritarianism is blown wide open. It is my hope that enough people and nations will realize that the state of Israel is fast becoming like Nazi Germany and make a substantial change in their support for Israel's policies before it is too late and the atrocities of the holocaust are revisited on another people in the name of "national security."
While a dictator yields to rule of the one, could you not also broaden it to mean rule of the few over the many? By this I mean a form of dictatorship can exist when a group (big or small) runs the country and is above the law. The group could be military such as the one Egyptian protesters are trying to oust, or like a political party such the Ba'athists in pre-2003 Iraq. While there might be a term for what I am describing, leaders of certain countries, even democracies, find themselves constrained to certain expectations. Anyone running for President of the United States, for example, has had to announce his public support for the state of Israel. Similarly, a front-runner in Israeli elections must show their allegiance to Zionism. The pressures any political entity, individual or group, must adhere to are many and come from the dictatorial demands of the strongest party (ie. military, people, religion, etc.). The big question is: What is to be done when this party acts inappropriately? Does the international community have a duty to step in or a mandate to keep out? In other words, what can be done about the small group who controls Israel since their actions are leading down a dangerous path and putting the lives of Israelis and non-Israelis at risk, exactly as your post has shown.
ReplyDelete