# Israeli Protests and Potential Crisis **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 18, 2023, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-protests-and-potential-crisis/981337 "2023-03-18T22:43:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2023, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-protests-and-potential-crisis/981337/21 "2023-03-26T22:37:10Z")
What happens if the reserves are on strike (or whatever it is, exactly) and Israel is attacked? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2023, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-protests-and-potential-crisis/981337/22 "2023-03-26T22:48:56Z")
> [@OldOlds](#): > > If this causes the government to collapse and a new coalition to be formed, is that the better or the worse outcome? Given the current Knesset membership, literally any other coalition they could form would be better than the one we have now. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2023, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-protests-and-potential-crisis/981337/23 "2023-03-26T23:07:02Z")
How would this cause a collapse? Just if a few members say they’ll no longer support Bibi? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2023, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-protests-and-potential-crisis/981337/24 "2023-03-27T02:58:42Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Given the current Knesset membership, literally any other coalition they could form would be better than the one we have now. I so wish that “likes” were enabled on this site. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2023, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-protests-and-potential-crisis/981337/25 "2023-03-27T11:18:50Z")
In your estimation, what % of the Israeli population would you describe as very religious? I’m trying to understand what level of support such a far-right coalition would have. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2023, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-protests-and-potential-crisis/981337/26 "2023-03-27T11:43:49Z")
I think that’s an interesting question, so I basically Googled it. With absolutely no intent to answer _for_ @Alessan , I found this article fascinating, informative, and worthwhile (and I’ve only skimmed it so far). It’s seven years old, so there’s also a question of how much the quantitative and qualitative data may have shifted since: > **[Israel’s Religiously Divided Society](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2016/03/08/israels-religiously-divided-society/)** > > There are deep divisions in Israeli society over political values and religion's role in public life -- not only between Jews and the Arab minority, but also among the religious subgroups that make up Israeli Jewry. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2023, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-protests-and-potential-crisis/981337/27 "2023-03-27T12:10:27Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Netanyahu fired his Defense Minister after the latter opposed the judicial reforms, and now protesters have overwhelmed barriers around Netanyahu’s house. It’s time for him to go!! 😠 ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2023, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-protests-and-potential-crisis/981337/28 "2023-03-27T13:42:00Z")
Very interesting, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2023, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-protests-and-potential-crisis/981337/29 "2023-03-27T14:27:36Z")
There must be something more to who would support a far-right coalition beyond merely being “very religious”, for instance you will have tranches of very religious Muslims, different sects of very religious Jews, and so on that will be at odds with one another. Not to mention non-religious right-wing supporters. (Also, can’t one be religious and on the left?) Anecdotally, I have one Israeli friend who is Lutheran, goes around wearing a cross and everything, who is absolutely not happy with the current government and current events, economic problems etc in Israel. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2023, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-protests-and-potential-crisis/981337/30 "2023-03-27T14:28:09Z")
> [@OldOlds](#): > > In your estimation, what % of the Israeli population would you describe as very religious? When I looked into this recently, it was about 14%. Unfortunately while the religious fanatics make up a significant portion of Bibi’s base at the moment, they are not alone. Bibi has always been very good at leveraging Israel’s external threat. _Vote for those leftists and they’ll let the Arabs throw us into the sea!_ he warns, and a large chunk of the right buys it hook, line, and sinker. The fact that Bibi fired the defense minister over him warning that this is impacting the armed forces is actually huge, I think. If Bibi’s actions start having concretely negative impacts on the military, his “Defender of Israel” image should get badly, badly tarnished. Whether his supporters’ eyes are open enough to see that, though… we shall see. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2023, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-protests-and-potential-crisis/981337/31 "2023-03-27T14:47:30Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > (Also, can’t one be religious and on the left?) See my post above for details on who else supports Bibi, IMHO; but as for this question - in this context “Religious” means a specific sect, “חרדים” or “Haradim”, if you plug that into Google translate it comes out as “religious” but it really means a specific community. Certainly there are OBSERVANT Jews in Israel who are on the left, but the Haradim community is extremely hard right. Their way of life is enabled by the right, is what it comes down to. They don’t serve in the army, they don’t work (they study Torah and get government money to do so), sometimes they live in settlements in Palestinian territories which left-leaning Israeli governments would evict them from as part of a peace process. So while I’m sure you can find a leftist Haradi somewhere out there, the community is overwhelmingly right-winged. They don’t vote for Bibi, mind you - they vote for their own politicians, who are also Haradim. But then the religious parties form coalitions with Bibi, because he gives them what they want. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2023, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-protests-and-potential-crisis/981337/32 "2023-03-27T15:30:29Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I’m on team “legislating searches to keep leavened bread out of hospitals is freaking terrifying”. As i prepare to celebrate Passover, when i will abstain from leavened bread. Me, too. Yes, I’ll do my best to avoid leavened bread during Passover, but nowhere near as fanatically as my sister’s family – and none of us would dream of preventing anyone of any religion outside our own homes from eating anything they damn well please. (As a side note and possible derailment, my niece shares our family’s generally egalitarian leanings but is adamant about moving to Israel when she finishes college. If Bibi’s still in power I sure hope she reconsiders.) ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2023, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-protests-and-potential-crisis/981337/33 "2023-03-27T15:47:32Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > There must be something more to who would support a far-right coalition beyond merely being “very religious”, for instance you will have tranches of very religious Muslims, different sects of very religious Jews, and so on that will be at odds with one another. Not to mention non-religious right-wing supporters. Well, I would assume anyone who would think it’s a good idea to mandate Kosher rules in any public places would almost have to be very religious. Sure, there is likely a religious left, but would we expect them to support that? Also, I was taking into account @Alessan 's comment about these changes being driven by really religious Israelis. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2023, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-protests-and-potential-crisis/981337/34 "2023-03-27T15:48:15Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Their way of life is enabled by the right, is what it comes down to. They don’t serve in the army, they don’t work (they study Torah and get government money to do so), sometimes they live in settlements in Palestinian territories which left-leaning Israeli governments would evict them from as part of a peace process. I’m actually pretty amazed the rest of Israel tolerates that. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2023, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-protests-and-potential-crisis/981337/35 "2023-03-27T20:10:00Z")
some possible/temporary good news > **[Israel government to delay disputed judiciary bill amid mass protests](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-president-urges-halt-judicial-overhaul-after-protests-2023-03-27/)** > > Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday put off a decision on bitterly contested plans for a judicial overhaul amid fears that Israel's worst national crisis in years could fracture his coalition or escalate into violence. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2023, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-protests-and-potential-crisis/981337/36 "2023-03-27T20:37:57Z")
Between Trump and Netanyahu, I’d say that there’s pretty strong evidence that putting the Executive of the nation (or a likely candidate) in a position where there’s a long and slow criminal process bearing down on them and jail time is imminent, is just a powerful motivator to break all norms and toss caution to the wind. The sort of person who would be at risk of arrest is also the sort of person who doesn’t care too much about the consequences of their actions, to the welfare of others. You need to keep them far away from the office, you can’t trust the common man to police the integrity of the candidates. Electoral safety checks like the electoral college, having the Senate elected by the states, and other steps that reduce populism, in candidate election, are pretty vital to the long-term stability of the system. Normal people will elect cranks that tell them what they want to hear. They’re not sitting back and being philosophical about “secular governance” and such. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2023, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-protests-and-potential-crisis/981337/37 "2023-03-27T21:03:27Z")
> [@OldOlds](#): > > I’m actually pretty amazed the rest of Israel tolerates that. They don’t. It’s a HUGE issue for more liberal/secular members of the nation. Or at least, the branch of my family living there find it to be a huge issue. They consider them leeches at best, the way someone on the right in the states bewails “welfare queens” and with a LOT more justification. Some on the apologetic side, find them of limited use in paying attention to prayer and study that those involved in ‘worldly’ affairs lack the time and energy to, but even that has largely fallen by the wayside in recent decades. But, as pointed out, they all can and do vote, and so if you want them to vote with you, or at least not against you, pandering to them is a path to power. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-protests-and-potential-crisis/981337/38 "2023-03-28T01:21:36Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > some possible/temporary good news This could be good news - it’s a sign that Netanyahu’s firing of the defense minister may be costing him support within his own coalition, to the point that he is backing down, temporarily at least. But I don’t think he’s given up yet, and I hope his opposition doesn’t let up until he’s driven out of office. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-protests-and-potential-crisis/981337.md?page=1)