Public Officials Fear System More Than Law, Signaling Shift in Israeli Democracy

In recent days, Israel has witnessed a troubling development where public officials face credible threats of sanctions, not primarily from the law but from the entrenched system itself. This phenomenon reflects a broader pattern likened to what Michal calls the "iron law of oligarchy," where large organizations, even those founded on democratic values, evolve to prioritize preserving their own power. These elites maintain their dominance by building loyalty networks, promoting insiders, shielding them, and creating deterrence mechanisms against anyone challenging the status quo.

The analogy to mafia operations is drawn not to equate Israeli elites with criminal organizations but to highlight their operational methods. Like the mafia, it is sufficient to punish a single individual to send a warning to others, using intermediaries to convey messages and enforce conformity. This pattern is evident in Israel through prolonged investigations, timed leaks, personal lawsuits, media campaigns, administrative disqualifications, and threats directed at public servants.

While each incident might be explained individually, their accumulation reveals a system with highly effective self-protection mechanisms. In a democracy, elites are necessary as strong institutions and professionals are essential. However, the critical question is whether these elites see themselves as servants of the sovereign people or as substitutes for the sovereign, resisting any public effort to change their priorities.

When public employees fear threats from the president of the Supreme Court, orchestrated leaks, or endless disciplinary proceedings more than the law or voters' decisions, democracy fundamentally shifts. It ceases to be rule by the people through institutions and instead becomes a regime where elites oversee the public rather than the public overseeing elites. This moment risks transforming the rule of law into rule by those in power, unintentionally undermining democratic governance.