Davidson Students Visit Israel Amidst Social Unrest

Late last year, Benjamin Netanyahu was elected to his sixth term as Israel’s prime minister. Netanyahu, a member of the Likud party, formed a coalition with other right-wing parties to create his new government. This coalition government is the most right-wing in Israel’s history.

One of the coalition’s key goals is to overhaul the judicial system. On Mar. 27 Netanyahu announced that the vote on the overhaul of the judiciary will be postponed until April after the Knesset returns from recess. The announcement follows months of protest in Israel.

Proponents of the reforms say that the changes will take away power from unelected bureaucrats and return power to leaders that were chosen by the people. Netanyahu and his government claim that the Supreme Court is an elitist group that does not accurately represent Israeli citizens. Critics fear that the reforms would give unchecked power to the government, remove protections for minorities, and protect Netanyahu from corruption charges he is facing.

A key part of the reforms include changing the process to appoint judges. Currently, judges are appointed by a ninemember committee made up of legal professionals and politicians. The proposed reforms would take away the legal professional majority on the committee, giving politicians complete control over the judicial appointee process. The ruling coalition also hopes to reduce the power of the country’s Supreme Court by restricting its ability to strike down laws it deems unconstitutional. A new bill proposes that the Knesset should be able to override a Supreme Court decision with a simple majority. Israel does not have a formal constitution and has only one house of Parliament so the judiciary is the main check on government powers. Critics fear that reforms such as these will leave the country to tyranny of majority rule.

The country is experiencing the largest protests in its history as citizens fight back against attacks on an independent judiciary. Last week, protesters restricted road access to the Tel Aviv airport before Netanyahu flew to Italy.

The protests have also spread to Israel’s military. Soldiers in the military’s reserves have sent letters expressing unwillingness to participate in nonessential duties and others have pulled out of training.

In a speech, reported on by the Times of Israel, Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, spoke out against judicial reforms saying that they have caused a rift in society that has led to, “a clear and immediate and tangible danger to the security of the state. I will not lend my hand to this.” Gallant was fired by Netanyahu the next day.

The protests are unprecedented, but will they be enough to stop judicial reforms? Dr. Silvi Toska of the Political Science Department, believes that there may be a way.

“The combination of the protests and pressure from European and, surprisingly, the U.S. government puts Netanyahu’s government in a tough spot,” Dr. Toska said. “It can’t ignore criticism from all sides. So, yes, protests can hopefully halt the reform package. For protesting Israelis it is their democracy that is at stake, and they won’t easily back down. I also don’t see Netanyahu’s government completely backing down, but may have to soften their proposals.”

Amidst the protests and unrest, Davidson students visited the country over spring break as a part of the history class, The Crusades, Then and Now, taught by Dr. Jakub Kabala and Dr. Jonathan Berkey. Despite frequent demonstrations and turmoil, the Office of Study Abroad and professors felt the trip would be safe.

“The Office of Study Abroad follows the latest recommendations from the State Department, which did not warn against travel to Israel and the West Bank,” Dr. Toksa said. “Additionally, they do rely on our expertise to make that assessment. I was in constant touch with my Israeli and Palestinian colleagues, and Drs. Berkey and Kabala with the travel agency, to make sure that we would not run into any trouble.”

The class visited Nazareth, Bethelehelm, Jerusalem, Acre, and other cities to get first-hand exposure to the sites of the Crusades. Students gave presentations on sites that they studied in class and had the opportunity to visit the Jordan River, Dome of the Rock, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Mount of Olives, and the Western Wall.

The professors on the trip addressed the political state of the country. Alex French ‘25, a student who attended the Crusades trip, discussed what he learned from Dr. Toska specifically.

“Regarding the current political situation this is what I remember: More extremist groups have granted the Prime Minister a majority control, but this requires him to heed their more extreme POVs,” French said. “She did mention how the president was planning to rewrite the judiciary. Interestingly, she commented how the modern generation [ages 18 through 26] were way more conservative than their parents.”

In relation to the proposed judiciary overhaul, the students remained relatively sheltered from the political tensions.

“I did not really see anything regarding the new protests, but it is all connected,” French said. “I’m sure as an ignorant American student, who neither spoke Arabic or Hebrew, I missed a lot going through touristy spaces.”