Israel at 75: Whose Side Are You On?
“So, what do you think of Israel’s current situation? Should Christians be glad that Bibi Netanyahu is prime minister again? What are all these demonstrations against the government about?”
Recurringly we get asked questions like this by believers who have loving concern for the Jewish people and the nation of Israel. Often the news media focus on Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians, including the ongoing struggle to quell terror attacks of various kinds.
Earlier this month [May 2023] more than 500 rockets were fired by Palestinian Islamic Jihad from Gaza, resulting in the death of a 70-year-old Israeli man in a Tel Aviv suburb. Israel’s retaliatory strikes cost another 31 lives – jihadi leaders in Gaza, and tragically, women and children as well.[1]
On April 25[2] Israel celebrated its 75th birthday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the nation, referencing elements which typically unite a country: “a strong defense force…, thriving economy, advanced technology, diverse culture.”[3]
Israel has overcome multiple threats to its very existence over the past three-quarters of a century. But in truth, perhaps the greatest challenge of the moment is the deep internal rift which gets much less attention in the media outside Israel.
Here in the United States we also are witnessing increasing political and cultural polarization.[4] Often the rhetoric becomes shrill. The impulse to “meet in the middle” is muted.
Charting Israel’s “sociological pie” is much more complicated, like a multi-layered cake. Yes, we find the typical rich/poor, educated/uneducated, rooted citizen/new immigrant slices. The rich cultural overlays of Ashkenazi/Ethiopian/Mughrabi/Persian/Sephardi/Yemenite origins are still evident to some extent.
Add to the mix the additional weighty layer of religious expression: Haredi (i.e., Hasidic and Litvish ultra-Orthodox) and Modern Orthodox; sprinkle in minority groups like Conservative, Reform, Karaite, and Messianic. Then take into account that a plurality of Israelis, while observant of some traditions such as the Jewish holidays, are more secular than religious. Some are anti-religious/atheist or drawn to Eastern religions.
This mishmash of ingredients helps explain the multiplied political parties which exist in Israel’s parliamentary system. For the first 30 years of statehood, David Ben Gurion’s left-leaning Mapai (later Labor Alignment) Party reigned supreme.[5] The socialist roots of the pioneer generation were reflected in the collective communities called kibbutzim.
The 1977 election of Menachem Begin marked the first rightward shift in Israel’s national scene. His Herut (Freedom) Party morphed into today’s Likud. The most recent election of Israel’s succession of elections resulted in Likud’s Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu’s return to the office of prime minister.[6] His “ruling coalition,” often described as “Israel’s most right-wing government,” consists of Bibi’s own Likud (32 seats) and an equal number of seats held by five very conservative religious coalition partners.[7]
In addition to having to deal with the existential threats posed by Israel’s external enemies (chiefly Iran, which funds and arms Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas/Islamic Jihad in Gaza), Mr. Netanyahu must govern at home. The competing factions within his own coalition[8] made reaching agreement on the national budget a challenge.[9]
On May 24 a two-year $270 billion (US) budget passed with a 64 to 55 vote.[10] Included in the line items were USD 1.4 billion for ultra-Orthodox interests represented by two key coalition partners in the current government. Why this group garners such political attention in terms of both numbers and need is documented by All Israel News:
The ultra-Orthodox Jewish community represents Israel’s fastest-growing population, [which] currently constitutes 13% of the nation’s total population and almost 25% of all newborn babies in the country. The population segment is further characterized by high poverty rates and low employment rates, especially among ultra-Orthodox men.[11]
The monetary impact of meeting the demands of the ultra-Orthodox parties is also seen in the numbers:
Of the NIS [New Israeli Shekel] 13.7 billion in discretionary spending, NIS 3.7 billion [$99 million] will go to increasing the budget for stipends for full-time Haredi yeshiva students who receive exemptions from military service. Another NIS 1.2 billion is budgeted for private, non-supervised Haredi educational institutions, many of which do not teach core subjects such as math and English, while additional funds will go to the official Haredi education system, and for construction of buildings for religious purposes and supporting Haredi culture and identity. Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also agreed to fund expanded stipends to yeshiva students to the tune of up to NIS 250 million ($68 million), using any surplus funds left over from ultra-Orthodox schools.[12]
This allocation to the Haredim sparked loud protests from the opposition. In response, the ruling coalition pointed to budget items from the previous government deemed egregious: NIS 30 billion to Arabs, 40 million to Reform Judaism, 6 million to cats.[13] All too often, heated disagreements give rise to hateful words.[14]
While the budget wrangling has ended – for the present at least – the greater threat to Israel’s internal stability continues to be seen on the streets. At issue is Benjamin Netanyahu’s pledge to reform Israel’s judicial system, and in particular 1) how Supreme Court justices are appointed;[15] and 2) limitations on their power to overturn laws.
Here in the United States, we also see parallels with disagreement about the politicization of our highest court.[16] Both countries are representative democracies, but with marked differences. As noted above, Israel’s Knesset is a parliament comprised of multiple independent parties. The leader of the largest of these parties (by number of seats won in the general election) is given the opportunity to serve as prime minister – but only if a coalition with at least a simple majority can be forged.[17]
In the U.S. we not only vote[18] for who will serve as our president; we also have two houses of Congress, each with specified duties. And as we see in the present government, the Democrats have control of the White House and Senate, but not the House of Representatives.
This means that should a seat on the Supreme Court open up, President Biden will be able to nominate a candidate of his choosing and the Senate, dominated by his party, will ratify that appointment. But budgets must be passed by both houses of Congress, and at the time of this writing vigorous “arm wrestling” between the White House and House of Representatives Majority Leader continues.
All the above are within the provisions of the U.S. Constitution. And this is part of the challenge in Israel; for 75 years it has conducted business without a true constitution. Instead, appeals are made to a system of laws and rights. The need for a constitution is recognized and since 2003 a special committee tasked with creating one has been meeting.[19]
What this means practically is that the Knesset can pass any law it wishes, but the Supreme Court can nullify the law based on its interpretation of the system in place. When laws of which one faction approves are allowed to stand, they cheer. But when the court by fiat overturns a desired law, protests result.
Most everyone agrees that Israel needs a constitution.[20] But with marked divisions in society, and high levels of distrust, if not animosity, between political factions, reaching agreement has proven elusive.
Mr. Netanyahu’s commitment to revise Israel’s judicial system has ignited a firestorm of protest unlike anything seen in modern Israel’s history. Beginning in January, tens of thousands of Israelis[21] took to the streets to demonstrate against the proposed changes. Massive counterprotests (in support of the government) have also arisen.[22] Those protests continue today.
The world views of the religious and secularists (who remain the majority in Israel) could hardly be more opposed. As one example, in the previous Knesset the secular government removed the long-standing requirement that Torah (Bible) be taught in public schools.[23] Very soon after Bibi was elected, that requirement was restored.[24]
Moral issues also deeply divide Israel’s citizenry. Secular Israelis are proud that abortion is freely practiced; following the U.S. repeal of Roe vs. Wade, Israel actually loosened restrictions on already-available abortion.[25] Tel Aviv is considered the “gay capital of the Middle East.”[26] As one would imagine, gay pride marches[27] in the holy city of Jerusalem are a “thorn in the eye” of observant Jews.[28]
Now what?
So, to the question “How should Christians stand with Israel?” our answer is, “With discernment.” Our Israeli Messianic brothers and sisters share concerns[29] on multiple levels. On the one hand, they desire to see Israel standing for morality and virtue. Having Bible taught in school means kids are exposed to God’s Word. And Mr. Netanyahu is committed to Israel’s security, which everyone desires.
On the other hand, Messianic Israelis have concern for the growing power of the ultra-Orthodox who so strongly oppose any expression of Jewish faith in Jesus. On the practical level, approval of visas, citizenship, building permits, etc., requested by believers, is often denied under the control of the Haredim. And prosecution of anti-missionaries who break the law is less likely when government factions protect them.
No political party gets everything right. Few, if any, seek to align their platforms with biblical values. We do well to remember the response of God’s messenger who, when asked by Joshua to declare “friend or foe,” replied “No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the LORD” (Joshua 5:13-14).
In all of our choices, including politically, may being on the Lord’s side be our highest goal. As “watchmen on the walls,” we also do well to uphold Israel in our prayers.
Wes Taber, Life in Messiah Global Ambassador
With so many conflicting voices filling the news, how do you discern what is true?
How do you temper the natural temptation to be angry or hateful toward those whose views oppose yours with Jesus’ command to love even our enemies?
How will increasing your understanding of the challenges faced by Israelis, and especially our brothers and sisters in the faith, motivate your prayer life?
Endnotes:
[1] https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2023/05/12/fresh-israeli-palestinian-violence-erupts-heres-why/70210707007/.
[2] Israel celebrates its national holidays on the Jewish, not Western, calendar. Independence Day is Iyar 5; in 1948, that fell on May 14.
[3] https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-741263.
[4] In the U.S., we typically view the landscape as divided into two big sections: Democrats vs. Republicans; conservatives vs. liberals; and increasingly, right/good vs. wrong/evil.
[5] The high mark for Labor was Golda Meir with 68 Knesset seats. However, she resigned only 85 days later following published reports of leadership failure during the 1973 Yom Kippur War. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sixteenth_government_of_Israel.
[6] See https://www.lifeinmessiah.org/blog/israels-new-government.
[7] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knesset.
[8] https://www.allisrael.com/stop-the-boycotts-netanyahu-tells-coalition-partners-amid-government-crisis-over-proposed-budget. NOTE: failure to pass a budget by May 29 would result in the collapse of the government, resulting in new national elections.
[9] To a degree, the need of the Israeli government to appease core constituents’ demands while seeking to control inflation mirrors the challenges presently faced in the U.S. The Biden Administration desires to increase spending at a time when the Republican-dominated House of Representatives seeks to restrain spending and halt inflation.
[10] https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/israeli-parliament-passes-2023-2024-national-budget.
[11] https://www.allisrael.com/israeli-knesset-passes-national-budget-netanyahu-calls-it-a-good-day-for-israeli-citizens. For an opposing view, see https://main.knesset.gov.il/EN/News/PressReleases/Pages/press24523r.aspx.
[12] https://www.timesofisrael.com/knesset-approves-2023-2024-budget-in-all-night-vote-patching-coalition-rift.
[13] https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/2021328/bennetts-budget-nis-30-billion-to-arabs-40-million-to-reform-6-million-to-cats.html.
[14] https://www.timesofisrael.com/tv-host-slammed-for-calling-haredim-bloodsuckers-during-panel-on-state-budget/.
[15] For insights on Israel’s selection of Supreme Court judges, see https://en.idi.org.il/articles/46674.
[16] With the swing to conservative justices under the Trump Administration, the Democrat-led Senate is threatening to “pack the Court” by increasing the number of justices from nine (since 1869) to 13. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/democrats-introduce-bill-expand-supreme-court-9-13-justices-n1264132; https://www.history.com/news/supreme-court-justices-number-constitution.
[17] A functional government requires a minimum of 61 of the 120 total Knesset seats. Those parties not included in the coalition become the de facto “opposition.”
[18] While the U.S. system allows for a plurality of political parties as well as independents, for most of our history citizens have voted for one of two parties. Since its founding in 1854 the Republican Party has been the only rival to the Democratic Party on the national level.
[19] https://www.knesset.gov.il/constitution/ConstIntro_eng.htm. That twenty years have passed without agreement is a testament to the degree of difficulty in finding consensus.
[20] A marked exception are the Haredim (ultra-Orthodox) who view the secular state of Israel as at best an anomaly or at worst an abomination. In their view, only the Messiah has the right to set up a government, and of course that will include observance of halakah (rabbinic law).
[21] As one example, https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/12/middleeast/israel-protests-benjamin-netanyahu-intl/index.html.
[22] https://www.israelhayom.com/2023/04/28/estimated-600000-rally-in-jerusalem-in-support-of-judicial-reform/.
[23] See https://www.israeltoday.co.il/read/israeli-parents-combat-progressive-agenda-in-public-schools/ for an overview of the “demotion” of Scripture in public schools.
[24] https://www.jewishpress.com/news/on-campus/new-education-minister-plans-to-restore-history-and-bible-to-the-schools/2023/01/01/.
[25] https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/06/28/israel-abortion-law-changes-roe/.
[26] https://www.forbes.com/sites/kimwesterman/2022/06/04/tel-aviv-gay-capital-of-the-middle-east-welcomes-return-of-pride-celebration-june-8th-12th/?sh=5585aed77cc3.
[27] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-61678682.
[28] Budget allocations from the former Bennett/Lapid government included NIS 150,000 to support LGBTQ concerns. https://www.mako.co.il/pride-news/local/Article-03a32909bad2a71027.htm.
[29] For regular insights into matters of concern within the believing community in Israel, check out https://news.kehila.org/. As a recent example, our brother Howard Bass posted this article: https://allisrael.com/a-long-war-of-attrition-living-in-rocket-range-of-gaza.