Where Do We Go From Here? Part 3
Ben Gvir is currently serving as the Minister of National Security in Israel. However, there was an attempt to make him the head of the police force, which ultimately failed due to the police's refusal to follow him. This is not surprising, considering that Ben Gvir has been convicted of over 20 crimes and did not serve in the army as a result of his criminal record. It's clear that he is not fit to lead the police force, or any other branch of law enforcement.
In response to this, Ben Gvir proposed to Bibi (Benjamin Netanyahu) that he form a national guard under his command since the police would not obey him. Bibi, prioritizing his own interests over the safety of the country, agreed and promised Ben Gvir a private army of 1,500 national guardsman.
This convinced Ben Gvir to agree to a pause.
Bibi then announced that he will negotiate with the opposition in good faith, to come to a compromise. You could almost hear the collective exhale. The next day one member of the Likud called for an investigation into the head of the Histadrut. Another called for one on the head of the airport and others called for arresting the “traitors” who refused to do reserve duty. This is the Likud’s idea of good faith.
Here is the good, the bad and the ugly.
The Good:
Israel showed the world what a true democracy looks like. Peaceful demonstrations (at least for the opposition) are a hallmark of a healthy democracy, and this was on display.
The people who actually produce everything now understand what those who produce nothing think of them.
When I first moved here and pointed out the demographic time bomb facing the country, my secular friends assured me it had nothing to do with them. Perhaps this was a wake-up moment.
Perhaps there will be meaningful judicial reform that will balance our checks and balances and make our democracy stronger.
The Bad:
People are really angry at each other, and they aren’t speaking. I always thought that, unlike the USA, it couldn't happen here, since politics is the national sport.
The army has been brought into politics. It's possible that if the reservists had not refused to serve, bad legislation would have passed, but it's an awful precedent.
Ben Gvir will get an army, and that can't be called anything but bad.
Hezbollah and Iran have been testing Israel with attempted incursions, weapon transfers, and so on. The defense establishment believes that they see the discord in Israel as potential weakness.
The Ugly:
Bibi has not officially fired Galant, who is too popular. Now the prime minister of Israel is not talking to the defense minister.
The head of the police, Kobi Shabtai, says that if Ben Gvir gets his own force, the entire police department would disintegrate.
The government passed a law banning chametz in hospitals. It allows hospitals to tell people not to bring in hametz, but they are not allowed to check for it or confiscate it. Two days ago (three days before the start of Pesach), a woman with a high-risk pregnancy had her crackers confiscated. This is against the law as passed.
The protests are continuing, though not to the extent they were before the pause. Many people still don't trust Bibi, and some ministers in the coalition have said that it was a mistake to try to do everything at once. Aryeh Deri, the thrice-convicted leader of Shas, said it was like they went to a nuclear war armed with a cap gun. Some would take that sentiment as an acknowledgment that there needs to be a broader consensus. His next words were, if the negotiations fail, they will pass the laws anyway.
The truth is everyone is just tired of the noise on both sides. No one wanted to go into Passover and Independence Day with this splitting the country. Unfortunately, in my opinion, it is a temporary pause.
I will enjoy it while I can.
Chag Sameach