Israel is eroding from within

Israel may appear strong from the outside because it possesses political, economic, and military technology, but at the same time it faces internal crises that affect its social and political fabric. All of this heralds a threat to its continuity and survival, as the political and socio-ideological division expanded after the judicial amendments recently proposed by Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, and increased the state of political instability. These amendments sparked controversy among segments of society, especially secularists, as their fears of strengthening this rule increased. The plan for religious coercion, and their concern about the Haredi followers assuming power in the state. This state of political instability, of which the extreme right is a part, as its supporters supported the judicial amendment plan, such as (abolishing reasonableness, the formation and structure of the Judicial Council, limiting the powers of the government’s judicial advisor...), as part of their duty towards Netanyahu’s camp, which fueled disputes in The Israeli street, and the confrontation began through demonstrations, a large part of which turned into violent actions that could lead to civil war.

The extreme right-wing religious parties took advantage of the state of political volatility in Israel, and formed the “Religious Zionism” coalition, which Netanyahu bet on to reach power again, as he relied mainly on the support of settlers in the West Bank and Jerusalem. How did the policy of extremism contribute to undermining the basics of the occupying state?

The "Religious Zionism" coalition, which in its ideology represents all Zionist movements within the occupying state, contributed to obstructing political stability after its successive rise to power, and obstructed the formation of governments because of the conditions it was setting, related to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, as it constitutes in its ideology the nucleus of incitement against the Palestinians. He is considered the first unconditional supporter of settlement, and a main instigator of the expulsion of the Palestinians from the so-called “Land of Israel,” and rejects any political settlement or sovereignty for the Palestinians on the land, as he has always sought to control the decision in the Israeli Knesset in order to prevent the voice of the Arabs from being heard, and to pass His colonial settlement plans and racist measures against the Palestinians inside the 1948 territories and the West Bank, as well as tightening the siege on the Gaza Strip.

The right-wing threat to Israel's interests

The leader of the "Jewish Power" movement, Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir, followed a path fraught with danger through a series of reckless decisions and statements harmful to the security and stability of Israel, the latest of which was his statement reducing visits to the families of prisoners to one visit every sixty days instead of thirty, which sparked a state of anger. And the tension inside the occupation prisons. After he showed great firmness in challenging the Prime Minister, Netanyahu forced Ben Gvir to postpone the implementation of his recent decisions against the prisoners until the meeting of the small political and security council (cabinet), which was held on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, and which came out with a decision to freeze the implementation of the reduction measure. Visits to families of prisoners.

For Ben Gvir, freezing this decision is considered surrender and submission, and a retreat in his recent position, especially amid popular concern over his transgressions and statements that the Israeli government considered controversial and irresponsible, due to the tension that these statements cause from time to time in the corridors of the cabinet, and the controversy that arises about Netanyahu’s powers. Ben Gvir is unique in his decisions without referring to anyone. In addition to that, the extreme right and its ministers are suffering under the burden of the American boycott, specifically Minister of National Security Ben Gvir due to his statements about the freedom of movement of Palestinians in the Palestinian territories, and Finance Minister Smotrich because of his economic policy towards the Palestinian Authority.

On the other hand, Ben Gvir is facing the anger of prisoners inside the prisons, and their constant threats to take escalatory steps to confront the ferocious attack he is leading against them, as the Supreme National Committee in the occupation prisons announced the implementation of an open hunger strike that was scheduled to begin in mid-September, in response to the measures taken. Ben Ghafir, the committee froze the hunger strike while maintaining a state of readiness and alert among the prisoners, in anticipation of any new arbitrary measures. The Israeli government believes that Ben Gvir is putting them in an unnecessary confrontation with the prisoners and the Palestinians as a whole, and increases the chance of the outbreak of an unjustified comprehensive confrontation, especially after the disparity in ideologies that the Israeli government is experiencing. We are no longer able to classify affiliations to the right or left in the current Knesset, as there is The liberal right, the conservative right, and the extreme religious right have many different positions toward Ben Gvir and his actions.

The harm is greater than the benefit

The plan for judicial changes and the draft conscription law aroused the ire of the Israeli army, which is the first line of defense for the state, causing the wave of protests to affect members of the permanent service after it directly affected members of the air and naval reserve forces, which exposed Netanyahu to harsh criticism from Likud due to the failure of his management of the crisis and the futility of the judicial amendments. And asked him to cancel it. The situation also turned into a confrontation between the government and the army after the organized attack on the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army, Herzi Helvi, for his incompetence in controlling his soldiers, whose rebellion expanded. The arrival of the crisis in the army is an ominous omen for the occupying state, as it would undermine a basic pillar of the state. Its weakening would affect the army’s readiness and efficiency, and thus the outcome of its resolution of its external battles, whether with the Palestinian resistance in Gaza and the West Bank, or neighboring countries.

Protests are continuing at the popular, political, and army levels. In addition to inciting foreigners, especially African ones, against the government, this is a step in the right path. The crime rate in Arab societies is also increasing significantly, to the point that they are also raising their voices above the racist Israeli laws that endanger life. The Arabs inside are to be killed at any moment, and the extreme right is constantly raising problems, demanding that Israel be a national Jewish state without Arabs. These issues and other details raise constant concern that prevents political, security and social stability, and directly affects Israel’s interest as a fully sovereign state - according to their account. - The continuation of this instability may lead to a threat to its existence.