Did Netanyahu think we didn’t notice his coup? How foolish of him
Erasmus of Rotterdam, one of the greatest figures of the Renaissance humanist movement, published in 1511 a satirical essay titled “In Praise of Folly,” in which he claimed that the clergy of the Catholic Church were some of the most foolish people of all.
However, he also maintained that foolishness was the cause of happiness for mankind.
One might suspect, then, that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, frequently seen holding a book he has been just reading, must have read Erasmus’ work recently because, in spite of his government’s foolishness, he looks quite happy.
Where shall we start?
Perhaps with the folly of launching a coup against the foundations of Israeli’s democracy. For 75 years, our democracy has been thriving, surviving wars, waves of mass immigration and political divides. We enjoyed the rule of law, free and fair elections, and the smooth transfer of power between opposing parties. The Israeli Supreme Court, the jewel in the crown of our democracy, has been enjoying worldwide prestige and admiration, thanks to its independence.
Suddenly, all this was put under threat when Netanyahu unleashed his two henchmen, Justice Minister Yariv Levin and MK Simcha Rotman, head of the Knesset’s Constitution Committee — two fanatic ideologues — and let them try to execute their horrendous scheme to weaken the Supreme Court and, by extension, the government.
Except that this time, Netanyahu, often praised as “The Magician” for his political skills, miscalculated. He never imagined that his plot would spark an unprecedented storm of popular protest, where for the past 24 weeks in the row, hundreds of thousands have been taking to the streets, vowing not to block let that constitutional coup.
In the meantime, however, the damage has already been done, with the Israeli shekel weakening against the U.S. dollar and investors in the Israeli tech sector reassessing their plans. Worse, for Netanyahu,
is the humiliating fact that he has not yet been invited to the White House — a customary procedure in U.S.-Israeli relations whenever a prime minister is elected.
President Biden has said bluntly that Netanyahu was not going to be invited soon: “Like many strong supporters of Israel, I’m very concerned,” Biden said. “I’m concerned that they get this straight. They cannot continue down this road. I’ve sort of made that clear.”
To add insult to injury, the White House invited President Isaac Herzog instead, making it clear that as long as Netanyahu pursues his sinister scheme, he is not wanted in Washington.
Of course, the argument can be made that this is purely the business of the Israeli people. In poll after poll the majority of Israelis, while favoring some minor, moderate reforms in the judiciary system, oppose the plan put forward by the government. Furthermore, when Amichai Chikli, the diaspora minister of Israel, told the American ambassador to Jerusalem, Thomas Nides, to “Stay out of Israel’s business,” Nides rightly quipped, “I really think that most Israelis do not want America to stay out of their business.”
Chikli engaged in another folly when he described J Street, the liberal pro-Israel lobby, as “hostile to Israel.” If he knew anything about American
Jews, he should have known that most of them are liberals, and that one can be pro-Israeli and critical of policies of a certain Israeli government at the same time.
Competing with Chikli for the title of our greatest fool is Foreign Minister Ellie Cohen, who had the chutzpah to insult Vice President Kamala Harris, a staunch supporter of Israel, for saying what every Israeli should have been grateful for: “America will continue to stand for the values that have been the bedrock of the U.S.-Israel relationship, which includes continuing to strengthen our democracies.” Cohen, in his wisdom, responded that Harris had probably not read the proposed reform, and that she — former attorney general of California, mind you — “may not be able to cite even one clause that bothers her.”
Come to think of it, perhaps a more apt book is “The March of Folly,” by historian Barbara Tuchman, who defined folly as “the pursuit of policies [by rulers and leaders] contrary to the government’s own interests, despite the availability and knowledge of feasible alternatives.”
I’d even accept a deal that absolves Netanyahu of his corruption charges, provided he leaves us alone.
Uri Dromi was the spokesman of the Rabin and Peres governments, from 1992-1996.