Behind the words. The fact that in his first and most important address to the nation, Prime Minister Yair Lapid – contrary to his predecessor Naftali Bennett – spoke of the political process that the Palestinians are a part of, made headlines.
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But there was another equally significant remark in his address, which sounded self-evident to many who did give it too much attention, and that is Lapid's addition of the word "liberal" to the description of the "Jewish and democratic" State of Israel.
Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orbán was the first to say that there is no such thing as liberal democracy, only liberal non-democracy, meaning there is liberalism in it, but no democracy. And his opinion was shared by the Visegrád Group, four central European countries – Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia – all of which were freed from Soviet rule after the fall of the regime.
The leaders of these countries, who have restricted freedom of speech and undermined the judiciary and institutions responsible for approving the executive, thought – and some continue to think – that by giving a regime that is losing its democratic characteristics a seemingly scientific name, it will be possible to treat the damage they caused to their countries with respect.
Benjamin Netanyahu is not the only one who identifies with their "disillusionment" with liberalism. In his book "We Stand Divided," academic Daniel Gordis, Koret Distinguished Fellow at Shalem College affiliated with the Right, refers to Israel as a non-liberal democracy.
He claims that Israel was unable to become a liberal democracy. According to Gordis, the growing gap between American and Israeli Jewry stems from the fact that Israelis have given up on liberal democracy, while American Jews have given up on their sense of belonging, which characterizes Israel's "ethnic democracy."
The reason Lapid used the word "liberal" in his speech was not that he wanted to make it sound better by using such an accepted word, almost like "peace and security." He took advantage of the moment when the entire nation was listening to say that in his opinion, "liberal" must come hand in hand with "democratic" and does not conflict with "Jewish."
The liberal concept is an ongoing effort to expand the boundaries of the freedom of speech, as well as many other rights. Whereas ethnic democracy restricts the democratic rights to those who align with what the government perceives to be the national interest of the time. This is not democracy.
Also this week, Cassidy Hutchinson, former White House aide and assistant to former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows during the Trump administration, bravely testified before a congressional committee on the events of the January 6 Capitol riot and the possible involvement of then-President Donald Trump.
She spoke of Trump's conduct after he was defeated by current President Joe Biden, and the picture she painted – including tantrums during one of which he threw a plate against the White House wall – raises difficult questions about the behavior of the man who was supposed to be a role model.
The highlight of her testimony was when she said that the president was warned by the FBI that the protesters were armed, but he told them not to take their weapons away, because they would not aim at him anyway. Criminal? Shocking? Either way, just keep in mind how many people in the US long for his return to power.
Meanwhile, in Jerusalem, Hadas Klein, assistant to Hollywood film producer Arnon Milchan, testified in the Netanyahu corruption case.
The stories have already been told, yet the sheer nerve never ceases to amaze, the most remarkable of which is Balfour's shameless request to renew "the stock."
And again, only the judges will decide whether there is a criminal element to this strange affair. But any normal citizen who listens to the testimony must surely tell himself that he would do anything just to avoid reaching out to a relative and asking for lavish"gifts," let alone complain if what you received is not to your liking… This is about more than just nerve. More than indulgence. More than the feeling that everything and anything is allowed.
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