New Delhi: Israel is facing one of the most serious crises in its history. Along with this, this could be the biggest test ever for Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He revived his political career only a few months after returning to the Prime Minister’s Office. Netanyahu, the country’s longest-serving Prime Minister, was ousted from power in the year 2021.
Last year, Netanyahu launched a political comeback and gathered enough support to form a coalition government after November’s elections, according to a report in The Conversation. The coalition is made up of Netanyahu’s center-right Likud party as well as a group of far-right and ultra-Orthodox religious parties. It is considered the most radical right-wing government in Israel’s history. Furthermore, these politicians are highly motivated to use their time in power to make rapid and dramatic changes within Israel and its policy on the Palestinians.
Public is angry about snatching the power of the judiciary
Initially, Netanyahu successfully re-established himself as a ‘responsible leader’ who would keep hardliners in his government. But his government is now exacerbating deep divisions in Israeli society and putting Israel at risk as a liberal democracy. Taking away the power of the judiciary is one of the main issues fueling public anger. The public is agitated over the proposed overhaul of the judicial system by the government. For weeks now, hundreds of thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets to protest what they regard as a constitutional revolution.
Crumbling economy
Moreover, Netanyahu’s rivals see the proposed reforms as a tool. Which the Prime Minister is using to undermine his corruption trial on charges of bribery, cheating, and breach of trust. Also, the domestic crisis is hurting Israel’s economy. Because investors and major high-tech entrepreneurs have pulled their money out of Israel for fear of a compromising court system and rule of law. Top US officials have expressed deep skepticism about the scope and pace of the reform proposals.
Meanwhile, a divided, demoralized opposition has been re-energized by a massive wave of protests. Calls for civil disobedience and clashes with the police have drawn stern warnings from both sides. There have been clashes between protesters and the police this week. Violence and growing anarchy in the West Bank is causing explosive instability and terror. Faced with an increase in terrorist attacks and the failure of the Palestinian Authority to stop them, Israeli forces are rapidly advancing into West Bank cities. On the Israeli side, the small number of Jewish settlers in the West Bank is increasingly wreaking havoc.
Increased violence again
This devastation has been going on for years, but Israel has not made serious efforts to stop them. Violence has flared up again in recent days in response to the killing of three Israelis by Palestinian gunmen. Right-wing politicians remained mute spectators and some even cheered the violent people. Apart from all these things, the question is whether Netanyahu can return stability to Israel. There is despair and anger everywhere. Netanyahu is currently facing his most serious challenge yet. It is not clear whether he is able, or even willing. To find a way to return Israel to the stability that was the hallmark of his previous terms in office.
