Israeli Author Argues Israel Has Abandoned Western Democratic Values for a Violent Eastern Identity
An Israeli commentator asserts that Israel has consciously distanced itself from Western democratic ideals, embracing instead a harsh, tribal Eastern identity. The article traces Israel's historical self-image as a Western democracy, once described as the only democracy in the Middle East and a frontier of enlightenment. However, it argues that recent government decisions, legislation, and official rhetoric have led Israel to reject these values, resulting in widespread violence and erosion of democratic principles.
The author emphasizes that Western identity is fundamentally a commitment to universal human rights, individual dignity, equality before the law, and limitations on government power. These principles, rooted in Jewish prophetic tradition and Western legal frameworks, are being undermined in Israel today. The article highlights the systemic discrimination against Palestinians, including collective punishment policies, dual legal systems in the occupied territories, and the suppression of Arab citizens' rights within Israel proper.
The piece condemns the rise of a "neo-Judaism" characterized by tribalism, violence, and racial ideology, which contradicts both Jewish tradition and democratic norms. It criticizes Israeli ministers who incite violence and collective punishment, calling for their prosecution either in Israeli courts or international tribunals. The author also calls on Western countries to hold Israel accountable to the same human rights standards applied globally.
Finally, the article urges Israelis who remain loyal to both Jewish prophetic values and Western enlightenment ideals to build an alternative vision for Israel, one that prioritizes the individual over the collective, equality before the law, and recognition of the humanity of all people regardless of ethnicity or nationality. The author warns that Israel’s future direction will be clear after the upcoming elections, either deeper into tribal authoritarianism or a return to democratic freedoms and universal rights.
