Stronger together
This week could prove to be a pivotal one for the future of the State of Israel.
If rumours are true, a compromise deal on Israel’s judicial shake-up is imminent, and may even have happened by the time you are reading this.
At stake are the rights and freedoms of millions of Israelis – rights and freedoms for which hundreds of thousands of people from across the political spectrum have turned out in protest each week for 24 weeks in a row.
There is a convincing argument that some degree of reform to Israel’s judicial system is due. But without a constitution, second legislature or bill of rights, Israel’s courts must have absolute independence.
But that is not the only thing that is at stake. Mending Israel’s internal cohesion is arguably just as important. If the governing coalition and opposition parties – who have appeared so irreconcilably opposed on the issues – can find a middle ground and a way forward, there is hope for all Israelis, despite their differences, to do the same.
Not everyone will always agree. That is the very nature of a robust democracy. But finding room for understanding and compromise is essential to the functioning of same.
It is our hope that Charedi and secular, Ashkenazi and Sephardi/Mizrachi, left wing and right wing, will all find that way forward, together. Israel’s future depends on it.
As we express this hope, we note that some people are of the view that we in the Diaspora do not have the right to comment on Israel’s internal politics.
President Isaac Herzog himself disagrees. This Sunday, around a hundred delegates from Jewish communities around Australia will converge on Melbourne for a consultation on Herzog’s Kol Ha’Am (Voice of the People) initiative.
The President has made dialogue between Israel and the Jewish world a priority. He believes what we say is indeed important.
And with the debates over the judicial overhaul having also ignited strong passions in the Diaspora over the past six months, we sincerely hope that the potential of his initiative to bring our people back together – stronger, united – is realised.
In Israel, in Australia, and around the world – we are one Jewish people.
Let’s all move forward together.
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