In 1988, Professor Isaiah Leibovitz wrote “If this situation continues, the hooliganization — or should we even say the nazification — of the people and society in Israel, is inevitable”. Today, 35 years later, hooliganization has reached its peak: bullying is omnipresent, on the roads, on social media, in the vulgar speech of elected officials, and in every aspect of life in Israel. Violence reached its peak against Palestinians, even when comparing, in this year alone, the number of Israeli deaths resulting from terrorist attacks to dozens of Palestinian deaths that are not related to terrorism. The violence and bullying towards Palestinians by Jewish settlers is an everyday occurrence and is another horrific indication of the decline in the value of human life and human dignity that we are experiencing.

As Prof. Leibovitz predicted, the occupation crosses the green line and spreads throughout Israeli society. The methods used ‘over there’ are moving here, oppressive acts applied ‘there’ are moving here, and soon the disdain for human life will move in – it already has in a way.

Meanwhile, most of protestors in Tel Aviv are wary of making this connection and are horrified by speakers who try to connect the palpable risk to democracy with the occupation of the territories or the waving of Palestinian flags in protest. However, the moment may well come when they too will recognize that there is no democracy alongside occupation.

The Times of Israel Feb 28, 2023 There is no democracy with occupation