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<\/span>A Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) survey shows that 50% of Israelis would like to see dialogue on the reform before it is enacted, including 42% of those who voted for the coalition parties \u2013 and 56% of those who voted for the opposition parties. They understand that in the absence of real dialogue, ominous flames flicker just outside the gate.<\/p>\n
These are the facts: 60% of Israelis feel that there is a high to certain likelihood that the struggle between the reform\u2019s opponents and supporters will deteriorate into violence. This concern exists in all camps, at similar levels, regardless of political outlook, age, or religiosity level. Only 31% of Israelis, less than a third, think that the chance of such an outcome is low or nonexistent.<\/p>\n
If violence, heaven forbid, breaks out, those who refuse to engage in dialogue today, may discover tomorrow that they acted irresponsibly in the face of danger. They won\u2019t be able to say, \u201cOur hands have not shed this blood, and our eyes did not see it happen\u201d (Deuteronomy 21:7).<\/p>\n
We have experienced severe traumas in the course of our national life, such as the Altalena Affair, Rabin\u2019s assassination, and the disengagement from Gaza. Each of these events stands on its own and cannot be compared to the others \u2013 but all of them were moments when Israeli solidarity was put to a difficult test, and ultimately prevailed.<\/p>\n
At this juncture, another perilous moment is brewing: according to the JPPI survey, 35% of Israelis \u2013 one in three \u2013 fear civil war.\u00a0We double-checked: these Israelis don\u2019t think it\u2019s just political rhetoric or media spin; it\u2019s a real concern.<\/p>\n
Against\u00a0 this backdrop, robust public action is required to promote true dialogue. The split in the nation over the reform is a fact \u2013 41% support it and 44% oppose it \u2013 but the divide must not translate into civil war. The mechanism for preventing this is dialogue, in which we open our hearts and hear the plight of the other with a true desire to reach a meaningful compromise.<\/p>\n
Compromise is not only the sole practical way to prevent disaster; it is also the will of the people: JPPI\u2019s survey shows that Israelis do think the judiciary is in need of change (only 16% oppose all change), but they also believe that it shouldn\u2019t be the revolutionary change proposed by the minister of justice (only 22% support every change proposed in the reform package).<\/p>\n
If the clear will of the Israeli public is to be realized, it is impossible \u2013 indeed verboten \u2013 to hide behind the argument that \u201cthere were elections, and the matter was decided.\u201d At the same time, it is impossible \u2013 indeed verboten \u2013 to stick our heads in the sand and claim that any change heralds the \u201cend of democracy.\u201d<\/p>\n The desired compromise must preserve the three-branch structure of government, with a healthy tension between them that ensures that no one branch gains dominance over the others, and empties them of substance and meaning. Those seeking the reform claim that it is necessary because Israel\u2019s judiciary has overstepped its bounds, while those opposed to the reform claim that it will enable the executive branch to reign over the others. What is required, therefore, is balance.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, Israel is not ready to reach an agreement on the enactment of a full constitution with a bill of rights, as is customary in Western democracies. The difficulty stems from the ongoing culture war between Israel\u2019s different ideological camps.<\/p>\n But Israel must accept the rules of the game by which the culture war should be conducted. These rules are anchored in all liberal democracies \u2013 in laws that cannot be changed by a simple coalition majority \u2013 with regard to legislation, adjudication, and regulation of the activity of the governmental institutions.<\/p>\n The lack of supermajority laws \u2013 that do not rest on shifting sands \u2013 is pushing Israel down a slippery slope of governmental instability. The constitutional vacuum creates a temptation that Israeli governments (both past and present) find irresistible; they change the rules as they see fit, according to momentary needs.<\/p>\n The current crisis can be a national opportunity to rectify the situation through broad compromise on the rules of the game that would bind us from here on out. To achieve this, actual dialogue is required.<\/p>\n Politicians \u2013 come to your senses. The writing is on the wall.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/jppi.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/-\u05dc\u05dc\u05d0-\u05e9\u05dd-78-e1673610275870.png\")
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