Day 273: Why I am Protesting
Towards the large protests planned for this Sunday to mark 9 months since October 7th, a friend from university wrote a piece asking why people attend anti-government protests in times of war, given their potential to upend a country that has gone through so mush grief and heartbreak.
I hear her. I also know others who share similar concerns. This makes it all the more important to explain why it’s not only acceptable but crucial that we protest. Especially during these terrible times.
For the past nine months, we have focused most of our energies in defending Israel against Hamas, Hezbollah and numerous other enemies — both in the front line (as is the case with many of our sons and daughters serving in the IDF,) and in the home front (where those of us who are capable of doing so try to keep the country working, the economy running and our communities as strong as resilient as possible.) We attempt to function as productive members of society as we mourn our dead and consoling our kids and watch horrifying reports on the news, and especially, supporting our communities and trying our best to thwart our enemies’ stated plans to physically, economically and morally destroy our country.
But as we fight this war, our current government refuses to enlist in the same battle.
Instead of focusing intently on defending our country, on building a more resilient society, on salvaging the economy and providing a clear path towards the “day after” for both our sake and that of Gaza, the current coalition is distracted by a long list of priorities meant to assure their short-term political survival.
And so, we find ourselves with a government that
Badmouths the security establishment during a time of war, and fails to provide them with the clear direction or the support they need
Gives extremists the national stage, and rewards them with budgets and titles despite their clear lack of relevant experience, their blunt disconnect from reality, and overall incompetence
Repeatedly torpedoes any chance of a deal to release the hostages and incites against the families of the hostages
Fail to condemn violence (to put this mildly) against the Palestinians, against Israeli protesters and against Israeli security personnel enforcing the rule of law.
Further destroys our diplomatic standing through the shameful declarations of its ministers
Continues to take our relationship the United States, our most important ally, to new lows
Ignores the needs of local government, and demonstrates apathy and ignorance towards those that don’t belong to their political base
Attempts to take over the editorial independence of the media (e.g. threatening to close the Kan consortium or appointing a crony to head TV Channel 13) and of other cultural institutions (e.g. the case of the National Library)
Uses incitement and lies to sow division, and distracts the public with scandal after scandal… and then accuses those who raise questions of weakening our national unity
These are the facts as pointed out by experts in security, governance and law: former heads of the Mossad and Shin Bet; former and current members of the Knesset including members of Bibi’s own Likud party, leading scientists and academics, former Chiefs of Staff, current members of the War Cabinet, and current members of the hostages negotiations team.
The failures are so public and obvious that I am not revealing any secrets. Our enemies don’t need me to point out what they already know. Those of us who naively thought the coalition would rise to the task after October 7th now know better: the current government is incapable of doing so.
Thus, I join the protests to make it clear to the government that they have lost touch with the people and forfeited their trust. I join the protests to show my support to the hostage families. I join the protests to say that the citizens of Israel won’t put up with the incompetence, the callousness and corruption that the current coalition showcases week after week.
We deserve a government that looks after all its citizens, irrespective of political affiliation, background, ethnicity or religion. We deserve courageous leaders, not the self-satisfied cadre of extremists in the current cabinet. We deserve a functioning parliament, not the lists of yes-men and yes-women that, to serve their narrow political interests, are remaining silent and allowing this situation to drag on.
So long as the government continues to put its own survival— and not that of the country— as its top priority, Israel won’t be able to begin the process of healing and rebuilding. Therefore, as much as I protest against the government, I am also protesting for all of us, and for the hope of a better future.
Or even the possibility of having one.
