It’s an interesting experience watching in real time the emergence of a vast inflection. Liberal and progressive American Jewish normative redlines against theocratic fascism in Israel. These are lines reported here and here regarding mainstream liberal rabbis, community leaders, and Washington type policy-people who will refuse all contact with members of the oncoming coalition government led by Benjamin Netanyahu, Bezalel Smotrich, and Itamar Ben-Gvir.
Historically, Jewish communities have always been marked by intense lines of collective solidarity, if not always around the edges. While nasty intra-Jewish discord is not a new thing, all of this in and about Israel now is unprecedented in scope and not normal. “To those who view such steps as alarmist, Rabbi Jill Jacobs, CEO of T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, says she would argue that there is ‘not enough of an emergency atmosphere’ among American Jews regarding the next Israeli government.'”
be interested in yer take on eric alterman’s new book
https://www.jewishbookcouncil.org/book/we-are-not-one-a-history-of-americas-fight-over-israel
here he is talking about it
i still have hope that in practice policies will moderate. Too many secular Jews in Israel to put up with gender segregation in public spaces. if the only change to the grandfather clause is that the emigre be Jewish—well Israel has its population and economic problems just like other far larger countries. I’m not overly worried that a non-jew with only one Jewish grandparent doesn’t get automatic entry. Another wait and see. As to needing an Orthodox conversion, awful. Netanyahu is so far past his expiration date it is ridiculous. Still cannot believe, however, that he will be as craven as anticipated. Much of his wins relate to security concerns.There must be a balance between according all citizens dignity and respect ( rights of citizenship included) and reasonable protections against terror. So yes, developments alarming but whetherIsrael will become a land fit only for fundamentalists—can’t yet believe it
start with the intended evisceration of the Supreme Court and autonomy of courts as well as undermining authority of chain of command in IDF. Add to that: more gender segregation in Israel, legalizing “illegal” settlements in WB, expanding settlements, throttling Bedouin communities in south, putting WB under control of Smotrich at Treasury (which is an act of annexation), putting Border Police under Ben-Gvir (also an act of annexation), millions and millions of state monies going to settlements and yeshivot, encouraging abusive behavior against Israeli and Palestinian citizens in Israel and WB, and Jewish prayer at Temple Mount. Also, not sure why you’re not concerned about the grandparent clause, but that’s really only scratching the surface.