Many western countries including the U.S.A. have been mostly mum as Israel’s democracy was actively being undermined by a far-right coalition who barely won power in November 2022, whereupon they resurrected the alleged corrupt political life of Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu by inviting him to lead. In 2023, they immediately attempted to totally revamp Israel’s judiciary to enhance their power and to weaken democracy within Israel, which was met by strong opposition and huge protests, followed by these Israeli right-wingers’ hold on power being put at risk as their popularity polls, tanked.

Most European countries are now facing the reality that Israel under the leadership of Prime Minister Netanyahu with his extremist cohorts in key governmental positions is no longer the reliable bastion of democracy in a sea of Middle East countries, that it once was. This is no longer the Israel that most of us grew up admiring.

It’s past time for the Democratic Party’s US President Joe Biden’s administration to do likewise, and to act accordingly.

Multiple western media outlets have been diligently and frequently warning US citizens about the danger of the US devolving from a democracy into an autocracy if the Republican Party’s ex-President Donald Trump should win his presidential reelection bid in 2024, but these same outlets have been mostly MIA in reporting on how Mr. Netanyahu has already been doing likewise in Israel in just the one year of 2023.

Simon Tisdall of The Guardian was one who sounded out the alarm bells early regarding how Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin with his extreme right coalition partners, were actively undermining Israel’s democratic institutions and civil rights, in his January 15, 2023 opinion piece, “Netanyahu is Israel’s own worst enemy. Why won’t western allies confront him…

Excerpts:

“A reported 224 Palestinians were killed last year in the occupied West Bank, which suffered almost daily army raids. 2023 is shaping up to be even worse.”

“The main reason is a new ultranationalist, hard-right religious coalition government in Jerusalem that includes racist, anti-Arab ministers determined to annex all the Palestinian territories. Yet the response to this alarming, destabilising development from Israel’s western allies has been strangely muted. A few have issued veiled warnings. None has imposed the sort of sanctions or boycotts levelled in the past on political extremists in other countries.”

“Can Israel still be considered a reliable, law-abiding ally that shares a set of common values and standards with the western democracies? Maybe this is why governments are keeping stumm.”

“In critical respects, Israel under prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s self-perpetuating leadership is a liability. It obstructs a two-state solution to the Palestinian conflict and scorns the UN and international law. It refuses to back sanctions on Russia over Ukraine. It rubbishes the 2015 Iran nuclear deal while threatening war. It sells spyware and arms to authoritarian regimes that abuse human rights.”

“Worse still, perhaps, Netanyahu’s band of bigots is actively undermining Israel’s democratic institutions and civil rights, such as peaceful protest and LGBTQ rights. Many Israelis, both Jews and Arabs, passionately oppose the government. Senior politicians warn of “civil war”. Diplomats and generals are mutinying. But reckless, opportunistic Netanyahu doesn’t care.”

“Conventional imperatives for treating Israel differently from other countries read like this: Israel is the Middle East’s only genuine democracy – it must be supported. It is surrounded by hostile regimes seeking its destruction – it must be defended. Remembering the Holocaust, Europe and America owe the Jewish people an eternal debt – it must be honoured.”

“Itamar Ben-Gvir, co-leader of the Jewish Power party who was previously convicted for inciting racism, is the new national security minister. He began by ordering a police crackdown on Israeli anti-government protests, banning Palestinian flags, and paying a deliberately provocative visit to Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site.”

“Netanyahu’s coalition is moving quickly to tame the judiciary – the very same justice system that is prosecuting him for alleged corruption. Meanwhile, criticism grows risky. Zvika Fogel of Jewish Power last week accused opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz of “treason against the homeland”. Little wonder President Isaac Herzog felt the need to call for calm.”

“US president Joe Biden, a stalwart Israel ally, views upholding democratic values as the defining global struggle of the age. Netanyahu’s close association with democracy-destroying Donald Trump, enthusiastic endorsement of Brazil’s “wonderful” coup plotter, Jair Bolsonaro, and matey dealings with Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Hungary’s Viktor Orbán must have Biden puzzling whose side the six-term prime minister is really on. Progressive American Jewish leaders have similar concerns.”

“The idea that Israel is besieged by hostile regimes was true once, but no longer. It has proved many times it can look after itself. The so-called Abraham Accords with the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco reinforced an established trend towards coexistence, if not friendship, with the Arab world. Netanyahu hopes the Saudis will sign up next. Hateful anti-Israel ogres of yore – in Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Sudan and Libya – have all been vanquished, one way or another.”

“The big exception is Iran, which remains fiercely antagonistic. Sooner or later, Netanyahu will again threaten to attack Tehran’s nuclear facilities. War with Iran would inevitably draw in Europe and the US. Much though they abhor the regime, that remains contrary to their interests. They have successfully restrained Netanyahu – until now.”

“Likewise, an intifada-like explosion in the West Bank triggered by ministers’ attempts to regularise illegal settlements or collapse the Palestinian Authority, would be viewed as an avoidable disaster by the west. Yet there are signs an explosion is coming, evidenced by the recent violence and the rise of local Palestinian armed groups linked to Islamic Jihad in Gaza.”

“By endangering western public support for the state of Israel, undermining its democracy and confounding its alliances, Netanyahu and his hate-mongering cronies show themselves to be their country’s own worst enemies. While they divide and rule, the gulf with the west widens – and Israel weakens.”

How ironic, after all the “blood and tears” shed since 1948 – to quote a former, courageous peace-making prime minister, Yitzhak Rabin, speaking in 1993 – if the final, fatal blow were to be struck from within. Rabin, remember, was subsequently murdered. His killer? A fanatical rightwing Jewish ultranationalist.

Another early warning can be found on the July 20, 2023 Jerusalem Post opinion piece, “Israel is on a slippery slope from democracy to autocracy.” “Sherwin Pomerantz argues that the Israeli government is leading smaller attacks on Israelis’ freedom that aren’t related to its controversial efforts at judicial reforms:”

Excerpts:

“The shift from democracy to autocracy is not an overnight thing. It’s not as if we wake up one morning and realize, “Wow, now I live in an autocratic state!” Rather, it is a slow slide down a slippery slope of minor attacks on our freedom that we accommodate, especially if it does not affect us dramatically at the moment.”

“In Israel, where the main topic of political discourse tends to be around judicial reform, there are other smaller attacks on our freedom that are playing out just under the surface and often move forward with relatively little mass concern.”