Israel Stands on the Edge of an Abyss

Protests are tearing Israel apart. Has a civil war already begun?

As everyone is painfully aware, Israel is being torn apart by wave after wave of massive protests and demonstrations over the recent judicial reforms by the right-wing coalition that controls the Israeli parliament. The core of the civil strife is the parliament striking down the “reasonableness” standard the Israeli Supreme Court uses to scrutinize some decisions of the parliament and government officials. This is just the first step in a judicial reform package the right-wing majority wants to impose. 

Brewing Civil War?

Judicial reform has been looming in Israel for several months. When we were in Israel in March, there were protests in anticipation of the vote. A huge group of protesters gathered one evening outside the Inbal Hotel in Jerusalem where we were staying. Now that the vote has taken place, the protests have exploded even wider, seriously threatening the stability of the nation and calling into question its military readiness.