Israeli writer: The civil war in this country is closer now than ever

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in the Israeli newspaper "Haaretz" stated that the civil war in Israel is closer today than ever before.

And the column written by Anshel Abfeffer stated that, as the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to pass its judicial legislation, the conversation among Israelis has turned into deep fear and obstinacy, as both supporters and opponents feel that this is the moment when they win or lose their "country".

Abfeffer said that the issue is serious, and that over the past few days he has found himself entering into discussions he never imagined, so that these discussions deal with how the civil war will break out and who will win it, and to which side the army, law enforcement and security agencies will take sides, adding that before 4 Just a few weeks ago, he was dismissing the possibility of a civil war in Israel in this column.

Closer today than ever

Abfefer quoted Yedidia Stern, head of the Institute for Jewish People's Policy, which was founded by the Jewish Agency, as saying that Israel today is closer to civil war compared to the time that followed the killing of Yitzhak Rabin and the disengagement from the Gaza Strip, as two events in which Israel approached civil war.

The writer described the "Jewish People's Policy Institute" as a somewhat quiet semi-governmental think tank, founded by the Jewish Agency, and it is the last group that is expected to involve itself in political differences, and it is more independent in recent years, yet this institute is currently implementing a campaign To strengthen cohesion in Israel and prevent society from collapsing.

Abfeffer asked why a constitutional change, which does not include anyone being shot or expelled from their home, would pose a greater risk of violent unrest pitting Israelis against each other.

He said that what he had seen and heard on the front lines of the protests and on social media in the past few weeks prompted him to change his view that he had been adopting 4 weeks ago.

Fear of losing "home"

He also pointed out that the fear of many Israelis from a comprehensive reform of the Netanyahu government exceeds fears of low credit ratings and a decline in foreign investment.

And while the issue at hand is the authority of the Supreme Court, the matter is greater than that, "It is a deep, powerful and immediate fear, the fear of losing home."

He added that the independent and strong Israeli judiciary "has become a symbol that many liberal Israelis, and certainly most secular Israelis, no longer belong to or are proud of," noting that these are a section of the public that gave a lot to the state in the form of military service and taxes.

The Orthodox vs. the Laity

On the other hand, the writer says, "There are the ultra-Orthodox who feel that the current government represents the true Jewish spirit, which is the historic end to the false secular Jews whose downfall has always been inevitable."

Abfeffer concludes his column, saying that Netanyahu and his allies have no interest in any settlement, "They feel that this is their decisive moment to win or lose the country."