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| The sound and fury of Israel’s protests |
| 2025-08-19 |
| [IsraelTimes] Mass protests may fill the streets with moral force, …or, arguably, immoral force… but without real leverage, they leave Netanyahu’s grip on power intactThe streets of Israel erupted once again yesterday as hundreds of thousands of citizens took to the streets in massive demonstrations, their voices united in demanding action on the hostage crisis and accountability from their government. The scenes were powerful – families of hostages pleading for their loved ones’ return, citizens expressing frustration with a war that has dragged on for over 682 days with no clear end in sight. Yet for all their moral force and numerical strength, these demonstrations are unlikely to influence the current government in any meaningful way. The harsh reality is that Benjamin Netanyahu has already performed his political calculus, and the math works in his favor—not because he commands popular support, but because he has correctly assessed that his opposition, however large and passionate, lacks the tools to effectively challenge his hold on power. After nearly two years of conflict, Netanyahu has had ample time to gauge the domestic forces arrayed against him. His conclusion appears coldly pragmatic: these protesters, despite their numbers and righteousness, cannot deliver a knockout blow. They lack the capacity to truly paralyze the country in ways that would force his hand. Ben Gurion Airport remains open, government offices function, and the military continues its operations. The demonstrators may fill city squares, but they cannot shut down the nation’s critical infrastructure in a manner that would compel immediate political change. More cynically, Netanyahu has demonstrated a masterful ability to weaponize the very patriotism that drives many protesters against them. To his loyal base—those who still view him as “Mr. Security”—he successfully portrays the demonstrators as leftist agitators undermining national unity during wartime. This narrative, however unfair to families desperately seeking their loved ones’ return, resonates with his core supporters who prioritize loyalty to leadership over criticism during crisis. The prime minister has shown he can weather massive protests by simply dismissing them as unpatriotic noise. Perhaps most critically, Netanyahu retains his parliamentary majority through his coalition partners. Despite polls showing him trailing badly in hypothetical elections, Israel’s system allows him to govern with minority public support as long as his coalition holds together. His ultra-Orthodox and far-right partners, while occasionally grumbling, have shown no inclination to abandon ship. They understand that new elections might bring them less favorable outcomes, creating a mutual dependency that keeps the government stable despite widespread public disapproval. Netanyahu also appears confident that institutional checks on his power will not materialize. The Supreme Court, despite its occasional rulings against government policies, has shown no appetite for the nuclear option of declaring him unfit to govern. Such a move would be unprecedented and politically explosive, requiring clear evidence of incapacity rather than mere policy disagreements. The court’s reluctance to enter this territory gives Netanyahu breathing room that elected autocrats worldwide have learned to exploit. Crucially, Netanyahu has correctly assessed that his opposition poses no existential threat to his rule. Unlike situations in other countries where mass protests have led to violent upheaval or military intervention, Israel’s democratic traditions and the protesters’ commitment to peaceful demonstration essentially guarantee that his government faces no risk of being forcibly overthrown. This removes the ultimate pressure valve that might otherwise force his resignation. The fragmented state of Israel’s opposition parties only reinforces Netanyahu’s position. Without unified leadership or a coherent alternative vision, the parliamentary opposition cannot capitalize on public discontent. Benny Gantz’s departure from the war cabinet removed one potential rallying point, but left no clear successor to channel protest energy into political action. The opposition remains a collection of competing factions rather than a unified force capable of toppling a government. Perhaps most tragically, the noble goals of the demonstrators—bringing home the hostages, ending the suffering in Gaza, restoring democratic norms—lack a coherent strategy for achieving meaningful change. Moral clarity, while essential, is insufficient without practical political pathways. The protesters excel at expressing public sentiment but have yet to identify leverage points that could actually force Netanyahu’s hand or change his strategic calculations. The demonstrators represent the best of Israeli civil society ….not the best, merely the loudest, with leaders who have eagerly sold their democratic forms for 30 pieces of International Progressive silver. Had they consciences instead of facile hate for Bibi, they would hide their faces in shame… — Until the protest movement develops strategies that directly threaten Netanyahu’s coalition, his parliamentary majority, or his ability to govern effectively, these demonstrations—however large |
| Posted by:trailing wife |
| #1 The protesters are morons who mistake the baying of anti-semitic, Islam appeasing, Western "elites" degenerates for moral authority. |
| Posted by: Grom the Affective 2025-08-19 01:11 |