Dear friends,
“Israel must safeguard a Jewish majority even at the expense of human rights.” So declared Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, this week. This comment joins the dozens of remarks made by Shaked and other senior members of the government that overtly undermine our democracy.
We can not dismiss such statements as mere political spin or remarks made “off-the-cuff.” Comments like Shaked’s reflect an ideology that defines the state’s Jewishness as its supreme goal. The government clearly regards the protections offered to human rights by a democratic system as obstacles to be overcome. In other words: for the government, “too much” democracy is a bad thing.
The government has been promoting this agenda for years: not merely via declarations but also through legislation, government initiatives, and attacks on “gatekeeper” institutions such as the Supreme Court. The Nation-State Law currently being advanced by the government is just one prominent example of this approach. The proposed law clearly and overtly prioritizes the Jewish character of Israel over its democratic character. It does not protect the pillars of democracy, such as the separation of powers and the rule of law, and it does not establish that human rights – chief among them the right to equality – are superior or equal to Jewish values. The Nation-State law is an outright assault on minority rights.
For us at ACRI, the danger is obvious. Prioritizing Israel’s Jewish character over its democratic character violates the human rights of us all. The Arab minority and asylum seekers, non-Jewish immigrants and migrant workers — these and other vulnerable groups will suffer first from discrimination and the violation of their rights. But practices of discrimination, inequality, and preference for one ideology over another will soon spread. Eventually, they will affect every citizen or resident of Israel whose lifestyle, beliefs, or affiliation differ from those imposed by the political majority.
I call on all of us to take these comments for what they are: a declaration of intent. I have no doubt that the government fully plans to implement their principles as far as their authority and power permit. To defend our democracy, we must first of all name the danger standing on its doorstep.
Sincerely,
Rachel Liel
ACRI Board Chair
