Nadene Goldfoot
During my productive time in Israel, we had 3 Prime Ministers: Between 1980 and the end of 1985, Israel had three different Prime Ministers due to a leadership change and a national unity rotation agreement: Menachem Begin: Until October 1983.Yitzhak Shamir: October 1983 – September 1984.Shimon Peres: September 1984 – end of 1985 (as part of a rotation agreement). But Netanyahu has always been my hero. When the chips were down, the people called upon him over everyone. During that time, Iran was at war with Iraq from September 1980 to August 1988. and left Israel pretty much alone.
Over 1.5 million immigrants (Olim) have entered Israel since 1980, with a major influx of over 1 million arriving from the former Soviet Union (FSU) from the 1990s onwards. Major waves included significant arrivals from Ethiopia, the United States, France, and Argentina, with over 18,000 to 20,000+ new immigrants arriving annually as of 2025–2026. Most come without any knowledge of the history of Israel and it's politics since then. They must learn that plus Hebrew to really survive. Hopefully, they come with a skill. But you can imagine that they are perfect people that the political arena can convince to their side in politics and join in just about anything.
I have been amazed that since 1985, when I was called back to the States, some Israelis had turned against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu due to what? His handling of the October 7, 2023, attack was the latest reason, prioritizing personal political survival over bringing hostages home, and pushing divisive judicial reforms. Many hold him accountable for security failures and blame his policies for escalating tensions and failing to secure a ceasefire, fueling widespread protests demanding his resignation and early elections.
Who were these people who turned against him? The people who have turned against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and protested in the streets in early 2026 consist of a broad, diverse coalition of Israeli society, primarily driven by anger over the ongoing, multi-front war, the failure to secure the release of all hostages, and the push for judicial reforms. As of May 2026, these protests have continued, with demonstrators demanding the government step down, blaming it for increasing insecurity, and accusing it of prioritizing political survival over the safety of the state.
Standing Together (Omdim Beyachad / Naqif Ma'an) was founded in late 2015. It is a grassroots movement in Israel, co-founded by Alon-Lee Green and others, aimed at uniting Arab and Jewish citizens for peace, equality, social justice, and against the occupation, particularly after years of conflict in 2014 and 2015. Yes, Standing Together is a prominent Jewish-Arab grassroots movement in Israel that has actively organized against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies, including the 2023 judicial reforms, the ongoing war in Gaza, and the occupation of Palestinian territories. As a united front of Palestinian and Jewish citizens, they advocate for peace, equality, and social justice.
. Anti-Corruption & "Crime Minister" Activists: Long-term protesters, active since 2020, who initially focused on Netanyahu's corruption trial (which I consider ridiculous) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on trial for bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in three long-running corruption cases (Cases 1000, 2000, 4000) that began in 2020. . The cases focus on allegations of receiving expensive gifts, negotiating media coverage, and granting regulatory favors to business tycoons in exchange for positive press. The trial, featuring hundreds of witnesses, involves allegations of accepting expensive gifts and exchanging regulatory favors for positive media coverage. Benjamin Netanyahu is alleged to have accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of luxury gifts—specifically expensive cigars,(the only accusation I heard about) pink champagne, and high-end jewelry—from wealthy acquaintances. These items, often dubbed a "supply line," were allegedly received from Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan and Australian billionaire James Packer in exchange for political favors, forming the basis of "Case 1000".Netanyahu denies all charges, citing political motivation "Submarine Affair" is now more important and on judicial reform..
Key aspects of the proposed reforms included: Limiting Judicial Review: The government passed a law in July 2023 removing the ability of courts to use the "reasonableness" standard to cancel government decisions. Key aspects of the proposed reforms included: Judicial Selection Control: Changes to the Judicial Selection Committee to give the governing coalition a dominant voice in appointing judges.Override Clause: Proposals to allow a simple majority in the Knesset to overturn Supreme Court rulings.Legal Advisers: Allowing ministers to reject the counsel of their legal advisers.
Brothers in Arms & Reservists: A prominent group of former military personnel and reservists who have been active in protesting Netanyahu's policies: (Achim L'Neshek) is a prominent Israeli protest organization composed of IDF reservists and veterans, notably including former Sayeret Matkal Lt. Col. Ron Scherf and former combat helicopter pilot Shira Eting. Other leaders mentioned include Eyal Naveh and Eitan Herzel with growing numbers refusing service to protest the government's direction. Brothers and Sisters in Arms (Achim L'Neshek) began in January 2023 as a protest movement of IDF veterans and reservists against the Israeli government's proposed judicial reforms. The group gained momentum in February 2023 with a three-day march from Latrun to Jerusalem and pivoted to become a major aid organization following the October 7, 2023, attack.
No comments:
Post a Comment