Likud Primaries Expose Hypocrisy of 'Democracy Camp' Critics

The recent Likud party primaries have highlighted the contradictions in the criticism from the so-called "Democracy Camp," according to Channel 14 commentator Yaara Zared. While these critics have long championed democracy, liberalism, and proper governance, they struggle to accept the democratic process when the public chooses candidates they dislike.

The Likud primaries involved hundreds of thousands of party members voting to determine most of the party's candidate list, featuring polling stations, campaigns, and intense competition. Despite this being a clear example of democracy in action, some media outlets quickly labeled the party as dangerous and extreme simply because the results did not align with their preferences.

Zared points out the irony in claims that the presence of reserved slots ("sharionim") in the list undermines democracy. She argues that having some reserved places does not negate the democratic nature of the process, especially when the majority of the list is chosen by the public. She contrasts this with parties like Yesh Atid, Yamina, Yisrael Beiteinu, and the camp around Benny Gantz, where no primaries or broad member participation exist, and leadership controls candidate selection without democratic institutions.

The core message is that true democracy means allowing the public to decide, even when their choices differ from the expectations or desires of commentators or political elites. Democracy is not just a slogan or a concerned expression on television but the acceptance of the people's will in elections.