The Netanyahu Government Faces Backlash
By Nate Sirotovich
In late December of last year, the current government of Israel was formed from members of six right-wing political parties: Likud, Shas, United Torah Judaism, Religious Zionism, Otzma Yehudit, and Noam. This coalition has stirred controversy due to the fact that it has several ultranationalist members whose remarks have alienated many across the political spectrum. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, returning to power for the third time, is facing criticism stemming from his indictment on corruption charges as well as his support of Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Opponents of Netanyahu and his cabinet believe that extremist rhetoric will only heighten tensions between Israel and its neighbors, particularly Palestinians. Consequently, there is a prospect of damaging relationships between Arab states who have normalized ties with the Jewish state. Right-wing and ultra-religious rhetoric has also made Israeli members of the LGBT community nervous.
As part of their coalition agreement, the Religious Zionist Party (RZP) and United Torah Judaism (UTJ) forced the government to allow private businesses to refuse service based on religious beliefs, provided that the service offered by the business could be obtained elsewhere. Orit Strook, a member of the Knesset from RZP, has said that doctors should be able to refuse LGBT patients if there are others who could treat them. She insinuated that Halacha, or Jewish religious law, is more important than gay rights. These remarks drew considerable backlash, including from Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who tweeted that Strook’s homophobic comments, as well as similar statements from many other politicians, “deeply worry and concern” him.
Allies of Netanyahu such as Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich and Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir have proven to be especially controversial. Smotrich has self-identified as a homophobe several times, even going so far as to say he was “proud” to be one. He referred to gay people as “abnormal” and proceeded to call pride parades “worse than bestiality.” He organized a “beast parade” in protest of the Jerusalem gay pride celebration; however, he later said he regretted his actions. Smotrich called to “restore the Torah justice system” and to annex the West Bank. Additionally, he wants to ban supporters of the anti-Israel BDS movement from entering the country.
Itamar Ben-Gvir’s time in politics has also been marred by controversy. As a young man, he joined Kach, a far-right movement that was later designated as a terrorist organization and consequently banned by the Israeli government. In his career as a lawyer, he represented many ultranationalist youths accused of extremism and hate crimes. In 2007, Ben-Gvir was convicted for inciting terrorism, and last year, he was caught on camera pulling a gun out in front of Palestinians. President Herzog summoned Ben-Gvir for a private meeting before he was sworn in, asking him to avoid discriminatory or inflammatory rhetoric. Members of the Israeli government are hoping that he will break his pattern of ethnically insensitive remarks, especially with regard to Palestinian Arabs.
The government has expressed a desire to expand settlements in the West Bank, and Netanyahu has said that “Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish people and them alone.” He believes that Israelis have the right to settle in the West Bank. This has caused worry in the Arab world, particularly among Palestinians, who are opposed to any Jewish settlement in their territory. Israelis are also upset with the rhetoric from the current Cabinet, especially from Netanyahu. He has tried to weaken the Supreme Court, calling it the “most activist court on the planet.” His reforms would significantly restrict its ability to overturn laws passed by the Knesset, increasing his power. Eighteen retired Supreme Court justices issued a statement condemning the judicial reforms, declaring them a “serious threat not only to the legal system but to the very nature of Israel’s regime and way of life.”
For the sixth straight week, anti-Netanyahu protesters have been rallying against the embattled Prime Minister. On February 11th, according to organizers’ claims published in Haaretz, 140,000 people took to the streets of Tel Aviv. In Jerusalem, 4,000 demonstrators stood outside of the President’s home. In total, over 200,000 people protested over the weekend; whether this is going to have any effect remains to be seen.
