Yesterday, Israel was the scene of an infuriating and saddening coincidence. While in a Jerusalem courtroom accused criminal, Prime Minister Netanyahu, stood in front of his accusers and heard the crimes he is standing trial for, at the other side of town, the Israeli president, Reuven Rivlin, received the fraction leaders of the parties just elected to the Knesset, to hear their recommendations on who should form the new Israeli government.
While Netanyahu was made to listen to the long list of criminal activities he is accused of having been involved in, almost half of the newly elected Knesset members, recommended to the president to appoint Netanyahu to form the new Israeli government.
How long will it take until democracy and the Rule-of-Law will have been completely destroyed in Israel and a true dictatorship will take over power? And why is this happening in a country that (still) is calling itself the only democracy in the Middle East?
The answer to that painful question is two-fold. The psychological hold of Netanyahu over a significant part of the population has been built and strengthened over the years, and is nurtured intensively by him and his cronies, knowing that this is the most effective way to exert his power over the masses. The grip of Netanyahu has been based on instilling fear into his followers. Fear for Iran, fear for Corona, fear for the Leftists, fear for anything that suits Netanyahu’s goals. This fear, and the constant use of Netanyahu of this fear, generates a picture of him that on one hand, shows a National hero, who is constantly saving Israel from all real and imagined or invented threats., and on the other hand, the strong leader that he projects himself to be.
The second destructive power Netanyahu uses actively and intensely, is his unrelenting attacks on all the branches of the judicial system, lies about the police, the courts, the State Prosecutors, the Attorney General, while all the time claiming that he is being falsely accused and undermined by the judicial system and the Leftists. Yesterday, after the court session, Netanyahu reacted to the accusations detailed by the prosecution and continued to deny them all, declaring their illegality and inaccuracy, and dismissing them as “an attempt to overthrow a Right-wing Prime Minister”.
Of course Netanyahu has at his disposal a battery of (very expensive) lawyers who have made it their mission to dispute every move, every word and every action of the Prosecution, by legal means or otherwise.
And, with all this in the news almost constantly and prominently, it is rather inconceivable, but in the last elections (held two weeks ago) a quarter of the Israel population voted for Netanyahu and almost a quarter voted for parties that stated before the elections that they will support Netanyahu to set up a new government. Where did we go wrong?
Has Netanyahu been so successful in his indoctrination campaign that now, after all that is out in the open regarding his (alleged) criminal behavior, still he will become Prime Minister again, because that is what the people want? What needs to happen before the public opens its eyes and see this man for what he is?
Of course in a” normal” democratic society, the question would not have come up because a politician in such a society would never allow himself to be chosen for public office, and concentrate all his efforts to clear his name. Apparently, self-respect is no longer a required trait for Israeli politicians.
Do we really need to suffer through another Netanyahu government, with all the damage that will do, internally and internationally? What does it take to bring about the change that will save this place?
All that is required is for people to open their eyes. But sheep that are taken to the slaughter also go with their eyes closed, no?
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