Dalit Lymor against the reforms of the Netanyahu government.
Last Sunday a protest was being held in in response to the reforms the Netanyahu government wants to implement in Israel. Dalit Lymor, who is the chairman of CIJO, was asked by Ronny Naftaniel to say a few words about the current situation in Israel. Hanna Luden, who was the former director of CIDI and Boris Dittrich were also present. Read Dalit Lymor’s speech further down below!
"Le resort d'une démocratie est la vertu", "The resort of democracy is virtue", As Montesquieu once said. Montesquieu thought that with the introduction of democracy, man's morality would prevail. But with the advent of any new "solution," it also provides room for new problems. For even Israel could not provide a solution to anti-Semitism, which many Zionist thinkers, such as Theodor Herzl, had hoped for. Herzl knew, that anti-Semitism would not disappear from the face of the earth, for wherever Jews flourished, it created another storm of anti-Semitism.
That is why Theodor Herzl, author of the Zionist pamphlet Der Judenstaat, firmly believed that if the Jewish people fought to obtain their own state, the world would see the Jewish community as a serious contender. No longer would "the Jew" be seen as a victim, but as a master of his own destiny. Herzl was convinced that to be a nation amongst other nations, they had to obtain a state. And to be a nation amongst other nations, he also preached "Für einen Jüdenstaat," and not; "für einen jüdischen Staat." A state where Jews happen to live, but not guided by religion and therefore suggested for a separation between church and state. Today we tend more and more towards "einen jüdischen Staat".
The priest would remain within the doors of his temple, but in 2023 he is now stepping out with brute force. In its 75 years of existence, Israel has never had such a right-wing conservative government. Where the government gives space to religious ideology. Where they want "Eretz Yisrael" to be part of "Medinat Yisrael". Where they hope that the spiritual center of Zion will become part of the state.
Based on that principle, the rights of Palestinians are constantly being violated. Where Minister of Security, Itamar Ben Gvir calls for the introduction of the death penalty. However he aims to apply it exclusively to Palestinian terrorists. The paradox lies in this exact fact. And should Cabinet Netanyahu's reform plans go through, it will mean an end to democracy, and Israel will open its doors to dictatorship. Which goes against the norms and values from which Israel was born.
For Herzl said in his book; "Every man shall be as free and undisturbed in his faith or disbelief as in his nationality. And if it happens that people of other faiths and other nationalities come to live among us, we must grant them honorable protection and equality before the law". Because Herzl understood that when we do not do that, it results in conflict. When we fail to guarantee the rights of minorities, it is impossible for us to escape this vicious cycle. Because that too is part of a democracy. Also taking into account groups, or people we don't always relate to. That too is part of Tikun Olam, the healing of the world. Only then will the world truly be in balance.
Therefore, I hereby call upon Israeli politicians and policymakers, to dwell on their predecessors in order to uphold the democratic values that are essential to a Jewish state. For without people like Herzl, there would never have been Israel in the first place.