2 Comments

I read you because, as a Diaspora Jew, I value your knowledge of Israel and your insights. Having said that as a first-time commenter, i view the following dimly: "Have the left and center become as unyielding as the hard right has been?"

This echoes the wan both-sideism that too long weakend analysis of Trump in the U.S. Sagiv is quoted, unlike you here, as "praying for this government to fall." Why? Because like Judge J. Michael Luttig in the U.S. he is a conservative (small "d") democrat and he recognizes that the threat of the anti-democratic to democracy is not normal "left-right" opposition calling for compromise as an operational procedure of democratic governance.

The corrupt antidemocrat always uses the timorous grasping at compromise of the (smal "l") liberal democrat to regain the advantage in a longer game. That is part of the history of authoritarianism, and there is every reason to know that Netanyahu will operate in that mode. Throwing the budding tyrant a "lifeline" is always a crucial error.

In a parliamentary democracy, topplng a government through loss of confidence is part of the process. In any democracy, in extremis, acting on that loss of confidence in mass expression of civil disobedience is the ultimate articulation of the democratic spirit.

Expand full comment

Is there a book or article in English that gives a good overview of the Gaza pull out and its consequences?

Expand full comment