Philosophers united

► We are philosophers in the United Kingdom who are also Jewish. We all support the right of Israel to exist; most of us have visited Israel on many occasions, for professional or other purposes. None of us has a history of criticising Israel in public.

However, the Israeli government’s current plan to undermine the separation of powers between the legislative and judicial branches of government poses a threat to the State of Israel that we cannot ignore. Those like us who care passionately about the health of Israel as a democratic Jewish state cannot remain silent.

A real democracy is not just a simple ‘rule by the majority’. Both individuals and minorities must have protected rights, and the judicial branch of government is there to ensure that this is so. In the absence of some system of checks or restraints on the executive and legislature, no government can aspire to be a democracy.

We fervently hope that the government of Israel will turn away from this course of action, and retain its place amongst the world’s democracies.

Dr. Nicholas Bunnin Faculty of Philosophy & China Centre University of Oxford, Professor Kenneth Ehrenberg Professor of Jurisprudence and Philosophy, University of Surrey, Professor John Hyman Grote Professor of Philosophy University College, London, Dr. David Levy, Department of Philosophy, University of Edinburgh, Professor Ofra Magidor, Waynflete Professor of Metaphysical Philosophy Magdalen College, Oxford, Professor David-Hillel Ruben Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, Birkbeck, University of London