CIVILIZATION OVER NATION

Israel is no longer a liberal democracy. As Benjamin Netanyahu’s new government took office on Dec. 29, its illiberalism was evident. No longer a matter for debate or polite embarrassment, the contempt for liberal ideas brings disparate factions together: against the media and intellectuals and increasingly against the old Western-inspired Israeli political system and constitution.

- BRUNO MAÇÃES

New Minister Bezalel Smotrich, for example, calls gay pride parades “worse than bestiality” and in 2017 published a political manifesto detailing how best to force Palestinians to “truly internalize the loss of national hope,” “killing those who need to be killed.” He was appointed Finance Minister in Netanyahu’s government. Yariv Levin, the new Justice Minister, proposed on Jan. 4 a set of sweeping changes to the powers of the High Court, limiting its ability to strike down legislation, while placing the power to appoint judges in the hands of the executive.

None of these developments are unexpected. But there is still a battle to be fought. Will Israel become a nationalist or even theocratic state, excluding everyone who does not accept the oneness of people, land, and religion? Or can the tradition of Jewish values flourish in the context of a civilization state open to other cultures and civilizations?

There is a powerful case for a civilization state, but the idea of civilization needs to be distinguished from national or ethnic identity. The latter is irrational and takes pride in accepting race or revelation as a basis for political power. It is defined by opposition to some other group: Jews against Palestinians, whom Smotrich defines as anti-Jews. It ends in bloodshed.