As former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to overthrow the most far-right government in Israeli history, liberals fear this will undo a number of progressive policies of the outgoing coalition.
Israel’s outgoing government was the most diverse in the country’s history and introduced a handful of progressive policies on the environment, gender issues, and financing for the country’s Arab minority.
But now, Israel’s anticipated new coalition government – overwhelmingly male, religious and right-wing – is promising to undo many of its predecessor’s successes, and this has activists and liberals worried about where their country is headed.
If his promises come true, the tax on environmentally damaging single-use plastics could be lifted. New protections for gender minorities could be reversed and generous budgets cut for the long-underserved Arab sector.
The outgoing coalition lasted a little over a year and collapsed due to disagreements over the Palestinians – but their policies on this issue have not changed drastically from previous solid governments.
But after Benjamin Netanyahu’s 12-year reign, activists say it brings positive energy to the Knesset or parliament, and issues that they say were largely ignored during his long rule are being addressed.
Now, with Netanyahu as head of what is expected to be the country’s most right-wing government, fears are mounting that everything will be taken back.
“In the last government … the public discourse was rights and the end of equality and discrimination,” said Hila Peer, president of Aguda, an association for gender minorities in Israel.
Peer said what she’s hearing now is “a rhetoric of fear.”
The November 1 elections in Israel paved the way for Netanyahu’s return, backed by a stable majority of ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox allies, including extremist lawmaker Itamar Ben-Gvir. Netanyahu is expected to complete negotiations to form a new coalition in the coming weeks.
To appease his associates, Netanyahu is expected to adhere to many of his priorities, which are very different from those put forward by the outgoing government. Liberals’ fears are heightened by the coalition’s intent to weaken the Supreme Court – often a last resort for minority groups.
Netanyahu dispelled fears by saying that whenever he was elected, it emerged and was quickly debunked. His supporters claim that the concerns are the result of his opponents’ intimidation campaign.
“We will not allow anyone’s fundamental rights or personal freedoms to be harmed,” Miki Zohar, a senior Likud lawmaker and a confidant of Netanyahu, told the Associated Press.
The coalition that ousted Netanyahu last year consisted of eight ideologically diverse parties, from dove parties that supported the Palestinian state, to nationalist parties that did not, to centrist groups and, for the first time, a small Arab party.
The coalition agreed to set aside divisive issues such as Palestinian independence and instead focus on social issues, including the environment and public transport. Policies towards the Palestinians have changed little. The army carried out daily raids in the occupied West Bank and a brief operation against militants in the Gaza Strip. Settlement construction in the West Bank gained momentum.
While a thin majority of the outgoing coalition thwarted major policy changes, activists say the government is moving forward in small but meaningful ways.
On the environment, it taxed single-use plastics and enacted a climate law. On the issue of gender minority rights, it lifted the ban on blood donation for gay men, took action to facilitate access to gender reassignment surgery, and took a clear stance against “conversion therapy”.
The government imposed taxes on sugary drinks and approved billions of dollars in funding for the country’s Palestinian minority, promising more cash than the previous budget adopted under Netanyahu a few years ago. He took steps to promote religious pluralism by reforming the country’s Kosher certification process.
No Arabs, no women
Beyond the inclusion of an Arab party, the coalition’s Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz was part of a gender minority group, with nearly half of the coalition members and a third of the ministers being women.
This image of inclusivity is about to change dramatically.
Of the 64 members of the coalition Netanyahu is expected to form, only nine are women. The ultra-Orthodox parties, which make up two of the four parties in the coalition, completely refuse to recruit women. There are no Arab members in the expected coalition. She’s slated to be a gender-minority MP, but her track record shows she’s not focused on community issues.
Assaf Shapira, of the Israel Democracy Institute think tank, said: “A large part of the nation will feel that they have no connection or influence with the incoming government,” and pointed out that the lack of representation has a direct impact on the legislative agenda.
New coalition members have already set policies they plan to roll back.
Members of the far-right Religious Zionism party are expected to challenge certain rights. The new lawmaker, Avi Maoz, said Israel wants the legality of the noisy Pride marches to be “examined”.
The threat – although the parades are likely to continue – frightened many Israelis.
Ultra-Orthodox parties oppose the single-use plastic tax. They see this as targeting voters whose large families tend to use disposable plastic plates and cutlery to avoid washing large piles of dishes.
The tax on sugary drinks is also borderline, worrying doctors’ associations, who say the tax promotes public health.
According to Shapira, Netanyahu’s coalition, which has a secular and social liberal background, is likely to be a bulwark against some extremist elements.
However, it is expected to give up most of its demands in exchange for legal reforms that could permanently freeze or eliminate the corruption case.
Critics warn that the next government’s policy priorities – coupled with the prospect that the Supreme Court will no longer be the go-between for challenging discriminatory laws – are a ticking time bomb for Israeli democracy.
Daily Morning Bulletin
Be aware of what is happening in Turkey, its region and the world.
REGISTER ME
You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
.
