What's the future for religious freedom and equality in Israel?
What to expect of a Gantz-Netanyahu government
Hiddush's response to the tremendous and impactful political upheaval that is taking place in Israel right now, with Benny Gantz agreeing to join a government led by Bibi Netanyahu [source].
26/03/2020 20:26
Tags: Benny Gantz · Benjamin Netanyahu · Coalition · unity government · religious freedom
Benny Gantz (left) and Bibi Netanyahu (right), source: Wikipedia
Hiddush always refrains from taking a position on which political parties and leaders should be running the State of Israel. The key value promoted by Hiddush is that of religious freedom and equality, grounded in the principles of democracy, civil rights, and the preservation of the State of Israel’s identity as a Jewish and democratic state.
The political upheaval that is taking place before our eyes during these hours is a tremendous and impactful one. It remains to be seen what Benny Gantz’s joining a government headed by Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu while ensuring the majority necessary to continue Netanyahu’s leadership, thereby maintaining the status quo on religious issues, actually means. Also, to what extent can Gantz’s move be reconciled with his repeated announcement today that he will not compromise on his principles, which he presented to the public and by which he earned the trust of over one million citizens.
There is no doubt that the fight against the Corona epidemic requires considerable efforts and the broad political agreement necessary to give it a validity. However, it is equally clear that an active and historic future may be expected for Blue & White and Yisrael Beiteinu, as they together lead a vigorous and determined opposition against the government’s support of religious coercion, gender discrimination in the name of religion, the ongoing damage done to Israel’s relationship with Diaspora Jewry, draft dodging, reliance on taxpayers' money instead of integration into the workforce, the deterioration of the education system and the future of Israel’s economy due in part to the ultra-Orthodox leadership's refusal to teach their sons core studies, the denial of the right to marriage to hundreds of thousands of Israeli citizens, etc., etc.
With the end of the Corona crisis, and hopefully this will come soon, the struggle for the soul and values of the democratic and Jewish state of Israel will resume, and a majority of the public will support leaders and parties who demonstrate their loyalty to these very values.
All these, and also the fundamental principle of freedom of religion and conscience guaranteed by the Declaration of Independence and constantly violated in full view, enjoy majority support from the majority of Israel’s Jewish public, including those who voted for Likud and for Gantz. This public does not support the perpetuation of religious coercion and harm done in the name of the religious status quo to Israel’s security, the state's economy, individual rights, human dignity, and the strategic value of the Israel-Diaspora Partnership.
The hope that a civil unity government could be established to shun the blackmail of the ultra-Orthodox parties, which would be supported by a steady majority of about 2/3 of Israel’s Jewish public, has been frustrated at this point. However, with the end of the Corona crisis, and hopefully this will come soon, the struggle for the soul and values of the democratic and Jewish state of Israel will resume, and a majority of the public will support leaders and parties who demonstrate their loyalty to these very values.