The day after
A stormy night lies behind us with chaotic scenes in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv after the Knesset passed the reasonableness bill. What’s next?
Israel is descending into chaos, and the protests are going beyond what's legitimate.
It’s done, the law prohibiting the Supreme Court from striking down legislation based on “reasonableness,” a key part of the controversial judicial reform, was passed yesterday in its second and third readings at the Knesset. The opposition boycotted the third reading and conceded a 64-0 victory to the governing coalition, which was celebrated with a joint selfie.
Things got hot outside the Knesset. Thousands of opponents of the judicial reform protested against the government and blocked the entrances to the Knesset in order to obstruct the votes. At the same time, a forum of about 150 major businesses and technology companies announced a strike. Shopping malls were closed and shopkeepers were effectively forced to attend the protest and not open their shops.
I hope you don’t think I’m anti-democratic when I say I’m against these moves. I have absolutely no sympathy for those who drag the entire population into this dispute. Shortly after the vote in the Knesset, I went briefly to our mall in Modiin to see who is participating in this protest strike and who is not.
Even worse, I find the interference of former army chiefs and heads of our country’s main security organs, such as former heads of the Shin Bet or Mossad, who have called on reserve soldiers to refuse to serve in the army should the law pass. I’m curious if the reservists will actually carry out their threat and refuse to serve in the army, thereby endangering the country and its citizens. Doesn’t that sound crazy? Or am I not understanding the whole situation?
After my brief visit to the mall, I went home and watched all the madness that began after the Knesset vote on TV. Chaotic scenes developed in Jerusalem and also in Tel Aviv. There were fears of protesters storming the Knesset, reminding everyone of what happened at the US Capitol following Donald Trump’s election defeat. The Knesset was not stormed, but violent clashes broke out between the demonstrators and the police out front. At the same time, Kaplan Street in Tel Aviv, the focal point of the protests against the judicial reform that have been going on for almost 30 weeks, filled up again. The organizers of the demonstrations have already announced that the protests will continue on Saturday evening after the end of the Shabbat.
Doctors have announced a strike for today, and hospitals are working as if on Shabbat. Again the citizens are being punished. Many important tests that patients have been waiting for for months are not being performed today because some doctors disagree with the elected government. Or am I wrong here? What do you think about all the “balagan” (mess) here in Israel? Tell me about it in your comments below.
We have to find a way to get out of this mess. Because if it continues like this, it can become dangerous. A number of events already took place yesterday that must serve as a warning of what awaits if this uprising continues.
Protesters smash the rear window of a car in which two young children were sitting.
In another incident, a motorist freaked out and swerved into protesters blocking his path.
The driver and the rioters who smashed the car’s window were caught by the police.
I hope we’ll find a way to settle down. Only together are we strong against our enemies. Unfortunately, we have enough of them.
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