Balkans | Israel is experiencing one of the greatest chaos in its history

Due to the controversial judicial organization of the coalition government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel is experiencing one of the biggest chaos in its political history.

Netanyahu The coalition government led by the prime minister restricts the powers of the judiciary and stipulates that the government has a say in appointments there. “judicial reform”, The dismissal of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who called for a halt to the regulations, after 13 weeks of nationwide protests, was the last straw.

After Gallant, Netanyahu’s Likud deputies, Yuli Edelstein and David Bitan, proposed halting the bill and offering dialogue.

Prime Minister Netanyahu’s message that he would not back down from the organization by dismissing Galant sent hundreds of thousands of Israelis into the streets and deepened the political crisis in the country.

Assaf Zamir, Israel’s consul general in New York, resigned following Galant’s dismissal.

Anti-government protesters also took to squares across the country, especially in Tel Aviv and West Jerusalem.

The demonstrators closed the Ayalon Highway to two-way traffic in Tel Aviv and set fires at various points. Activists in West Jerusalem went to the prime minister’s house and clashed with the police. Demonstrations were also held around the homes of lawmakers and ministers from Netanyahu’s party, Likud.

Professional organizations went on strike, and flights were grounded at the largest airport

In addition, many sectors and professional organizations across the country decided to strike against the judicial regulation of the government.

Israel’s largest trade union, the hastadrut, has announced that if Netanyahu does not announce that he is stopping the arrangement, a general strike will be organized as soon as possible. Flights have been suspended due to the strike, which began at the country’s largest international airport, Ben Gurion.

Israeli universities, the Israeli Bar Association, hospitals and healthcare professionals, as well as private companies such as the international restaurant chain “McDonald’s” and shopping malls, announced that they had taken part in the strike and had resigned from their jobs.

Haaretz assessed the situation in the country as “an unprecedented internal crisis that threatens the fate of Israel’s democratic rule.”

“Israel is in greater danger than it has been since the Yom Kippur War.”

Naftali Bennett, one of the former Israeli prime ministers, likened the political crisis caused by the controversial judicial organization to the “Yom Kippur” war (the 1973 Arab-Israeli war) launched by the Arab countries led by Egypt and Syria against Israel between 6 years ago. October 25, 1973.

Bennett said on his Twitter account: “Israel is in greater danger than it has been since the Yom Kippur War.” comment.

The main opposition leader, former Prime Minister Yair Lapid, also said of Netanyahu, who fired the defense minister, “The Israeli prime minister is a threat to the security of the State of Israel.” Use phrases.

Ahmed Tibi, an Arab lawmaker from the Joint List party in the Israeli parliament, likened the protests across the country to the process that began in 2010 and led to the anti-government uprisings and riots called the “Arab Spring”.

Tibi shared on his Twitter account, “The people want the fall of the regime.” Comment on the logo.

A call for a “counter-demonstration” by right-wing groups supporting the government

In response to the political crisis caused by the judicial organization with mass protests and strikes across the country, calls for a “counter-demonstration” came from supporters of the Whig government.

Against the protests attended by thousands of Israelis who responded to the regulation, supporters of the far-right coalition also decided to take to the streets against the prospect of Netanyahu suspending the bill.

The decision by opponents and supporters of the government, including the far-right organization La Familia, known for its violent actions, to hold mass demonstrations simultaneously in West Jerusalem and Tel Aviv for the first time, has heightened security concerns.

Israeli police have warned of the possibility that far-right, pro-government protesters may commit violence against demonstrators who oppose the judicial regulation.

A crack in the coalition government

News that Netanyahu, the target of the protests, was announcing the suspension of judicial regulation due to mounting pressure, caused a crack in the multilateral coalition government.

Religious Zionist, the party of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, known for its far-right and racist politics, argued that suspending the organization “would mean giving in to violence and chaos and spoiling the election results.”

The Religious Zionist Party stated that they were “entrusted with the task of creating a balance in Israeli democracy” with the election results, and indicated that they were open to concessions and dialogue, but that this would not be under the threat of a “coup by Hezbollah”. Central Forces in Israeli Democracy”.

Another partner in Netanyahu’s far-right coalition, Jewish Power Party leader and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir also made a statement on his social media account, calling for judicial regulation not to be suspended and “not to give in to chaos.”

On the other hand, Israeli media reported that Ben Gvir threatened to “overthrow the coalition government” in the event that judicial regulation ceased.

Netanyahu’s difficult choice

After these developments, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seen facing “two bitter choices.” Either continue with judicial regulation or freeze it temporarily. However, both options are said to be “costs” for Netanyahu.

While Netanyahu is inclined to agree to suspending judicial regulation, he also wants to prevent the coalition government from collapsing because of it.

Three ministers and some lawmakers from the Likud party announced their intention to support Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision if he decides to stop the judicial regulation, which is causing a political crisis in the country.

The ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism, also gave coalition partners a message that they would “appreciate” Netanyahu’s choice of judicial regulation and that they would not oppose if judicial regulation was stopped.

But Netanyahu faces opposition from his partners, such as Likud Justice Minister Yariv Levin and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, from the far-right Jewish Power party in the coalition.

The threat that these names will leave the ruling coalition in the event that the bill is postponed or suspended stands before Netanyahu.

If Netanyahu, who wants the protests to stop on the one hand and the government to continue on the other, chooses to suspend the judicial regulation without convincing all his partners, the coalition government may disintegrate and an early election scenario may be on the agenda. in the country. Netanyahu, who is said to be the name causing an “unprecedented division among the Israeli people” if he continues with the arrangement, may also face opposition from within his own party, as in the example of Defense Minister Gallant, and end his rule. power.

In the snap general elections held on November 1, 2022 in Israel, which has been in a maelstrom of snap elections and coalition crisis in recent years, right-wing parties led by Netanyahu won a clear victory by sending 64 deputies to the 120-seat parliament.

In parliamentary arithmetic terms, Netanyahu’s Likud party has 32, and its far-right allies, the Religious Zionist Party, Jewish Power, and Noam’s “religious Zionist” List 14, the ultra-Orthodox parties. Shas has 11 seats and Torah United has 7 seats.