Israel Faces Risk of Becoming Isolated Theocracy, Experts Warn

Elements within the Israeli government are reportedly working to isolate the country internationally, driven by a messianic ideology. This trend is accompanied by increasing calls to transform Israel into a halachic state, governed by Jewish law. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has stated that Israel should operate according to the Torah in the long term, a sentiment echoed by other senior religious-nationalist figures.

Experts warn that the push for a halachic state and international isolation are intertwined, both stemming from fundamentalist ideologies. Research suggests that international isolation can strengthen authoritarian regimes rather than weaken them. Historically, isolated theocratic states like Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Afghanistan are characterized by poverty and severe human rights violations.

The concept of a halachic state, once confined to fringe right-wing movements, has entered the mainstream of the religious-nationalist community. Prominent rabbis and politicians, including Smotrich, have expressed support for governance based on Torah law. Educational institutions with a messianic orientation are actively promoting this vision, with alumni now holding significant positions in government and security agencies, including the Shin Bet and Mossad.

Simultaneously, Israel is experiencing growing international isolation, with sanctions and import bans from various countries, particularly concerning settlements. While antisemitism may contribute to anti-Israel sentiment, experts point to government policies, including settlement expansion, violence, the Gaza conflict, and provocative statements by ministers, as key drivers of this isolation.

Some factions within Israel, particularly from the religious-right, view international isolation positively, seeing dependence on the West as a threat. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has acknowledged the risk of isolation, suggesting Israel adapt to an autarkic economy, a statement that caused market downturns and was criticized as unrealistic and politically motivated.

Experts caution that prolonged isolation could lead to severe economic damage, a decline in living standards, and a threat to national security, potentially causing Israel's collapse. The academic sector is already experiencing negative impacts, with a significant drop in research grants and an increase in boycott reports. The article concludes that while Israel is not currently an isolated theocracy, the direction advocated by some poses a grave danger, mirroring the negative outcomes seen in countries like Iran and Afghanistan, where citizens suffer from restricted freedoms, economic hardship, and diminished rights.