Avishai Ben Haim Criticizes Ronen Bergman Over Personal Dispute and Judicial Debate

Israeli journalist Avishai Ben Haim responded sharply to fellow journalist Ronen Bergman on Wednesday following a heated verbal exchange between the two. Ben Haim accused Bergman of dragging him into a personal conflict and expressed his preference to remain silent in such cases. However, he felt compelled to reply due to repeated provocations from Bergman.

Ben Haim criticized Bergman’s request to discuss Israel’s judicial system without using terms like "hegemony," "First and Second Israel," and "privilege," calling it a fundamental misunderstanding. He argued that the Israeli Supreme Court is dominated by a coalition representing the "First Israel," which suppresses the "Second Israel," citing the Bennett-Lapid coalition as an example. According to Ben Haim, the judicial system functions not as an impartial legal body but as an instrument of oppression to maintain hegemonic power and privilege.

He elaborated that Bergman’s approach reflects hegemonic blindness to its own dominance, perceiving the court’s control as natural order rather than systemic injustice. Ben Haim emphasized that discussions about Israel’s judiciary cannot be separated from social class and privilege contexts, as the dominant groups deny their own privileged status.

Concluding, Ben Haim stated that all achievements by Bergman and his peers are linked to systemic privileges and the suppression of others from the "Second Israel." He cited recent political events, such as the cancellation of the State Comptroller elections and parliamentary election controversies, as examples of the system favoring the hegemonic group. Despite the harsh tone, Ben Haim expressed no personal animosity and asked for forgiveness if his remarks seemed offensive, noting his usual avoidance of personal disputes.

The exchange highlights ongoing tensions in Israeli media and politics regarding the judiciary’s role and societal divisions.