Abraham Accords Mark II!

Mecca in Saudi Arabia is the spiritual home to Sunni Islam and birthplace of Prophet Mohammad. The Saudi Kingdom connects with hundreds of millions of Muslim pilgrims and influences global Islamic sentiment. Qatar is Saudi Arabia's neighbor, but the Saudi's strongly disagreed with their aggressive promotion of global Islamic Jihad, adopted in-part to counter Saudi influence. 

Iran is Qatar's partner in the worlds largest natural-gas field and sponsor of openly violent Jihad. Iran's Shiite sect competes with Sunni in important religious aspects, but violent Jihad finds common ground with pro-Qatar, Sunni extremists, including Hamas, who agitate less aggressive pro-Saudi leaders. 

Al Jazeera is the official global television network of Qatar. It has been banned by Islamic Authorities including;  Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Sudan, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and The Palestinian Authority. They do not want Qatar's propaganda, supported by Turkey and Muslim Brotherhood alliances to destabilize their governments.

The Saudi-Qatari Islamic relationship is complex. Following the threads, these countries seem to facilitate an uncomfortably sociopathic logic which Iran's Shiite, "Russian Roulette" exploits, but Iran may have miscalculated the re-election of President Donald Trump.

Recently Benjamin Netanyahu presented a Blessing and Curse Map that outlined the expected result of Israel's preferred plan. East-West trade blessed through Oman and over the Saudi Arabian Peninsula, or cursed through Iran and Istanbul. Curiously his map ignored Qatar.

Iranian proxies in Yemen represent the curse who have blocked passage of shipping through Egypt's Suez Canal. However, India's Adani Group acquisition of Haifa Port in Israel and pan-Saudi peninsula road construction, through Jordan to Haifa Port, are a step toward a Suez alternative and blessing.  

Here's why. Europe is one of the largest consumers of natural gas. The Russia - Ukraine conflict has significantly disrupted supply. Qatar exports 25% of its Liquified Natural Gas to Europe, but supply is grossly insufficient and pipeline gas yields around 35% more profit. For pipeline gas, from the Persian Gulf, to reach Europe the Saudi peninsula must be traversed. 

In 2022 the Biden administration withdrew support for the EastMed natural gas pipeline, in partnership with Israel, Cyprus and Greece to Europe, but work continues. To ensure consistent, undisrupted supply pipeline security is paramount.  Germany sold 11 submarines to Israel to, among other defensive uses, monitor its offshore gas rigs and the anticipated underwater pipeline. 

The Abqaiq-Yanbu NGL pipeline in Saudi Arabia runs from the Persian Gulf to Red Sea, extending this route through Egypt or Jordan to Israel's EastMed pipeline would allow Persian Gulf gas reserves to flow into Europe and feed its insatiable demand. Such an agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia to supply Europe, from gas fields they control, would also leverage Qatar to join or be priced out of its European market. 

The Abraham Accords Mark II will no-doubt orchestrate geo-political change founded on regional prosperity and cooperation the least of which will break European dependence on Russian energy. The profound nature of these changes under a Trump Presidency will stabilize middle east tensions through a concerted attack on finances of Iran and violent politico-religious NGO's and charities in countries like Turkey, Qatar and Egypt. 

Unlocking billion dollar/month GDP boosts for participating countries, including Qatar will be too lucrative to resist, but, aligning geopolitical rivals is hard.

 

Israel 's Point Of No Return!

...then it was Jerusalem Day. Yeshiva students bussed in, kids gathered in parks, families, tourists, flags and song. Walking, as they have done in previous years, Minister of Internal Security Itamar Ben Gvir and Deputy Mayor Arieh King. If this were a political rally, fake news would have claimed 100,000+ attended, but it was not. Around 40,000 came to express gratitude, celebrating the miracle of Israel's rapid victory in June 1967 that reunited Jerusalem with its Jewish people. 

In stark contrast some 60,000 people are displaced from their homes, living in temporary accommodations without knowing when they will return. Others are anxious presently living in a state of despair that their lives will be impacted by future religious governments not aligned with their lifestyle. 

Since Simchat Torah, October 7, public opinion about military and political leadership has moved from from disdain to despair. Confidence was shattered as it became abundantly clear that Israel's attempt, over the past 20 years, to thwart foreign and local enemies has failed. Israel's divisive political crisis, over Judicial Reform, has been subdued by its existential and leadership crisis as the nation was thrust  into a complex war including in the broader Jewish world. 

In business meetings, on the train, bus, or in daily traffic, running errands, transporting kids, exercise or gainful enjoyment feels like oblivion, knowing that soldiers are sacrificing their lives to benefit the nation. Feeling useless and the inevitable bad news brings on a certain guilt, but Israeli's are stoic, they confront facts, grieve loss, do more and march on relentless. 

Meanwhile, Israel's activist political organizations are shifting emphasis from hostages to anti-government rhetoric, years in advance of the next scheduled election. Their hope; to lure offshore state actors and Jews into their desired political realm. To that end Anti-government protest organizations like Hofshi Israel, for Benny Gantz Blue and White party, estimated more than 150,000 people attended their June 22 rally, calling it the biggest since the Gaza war began. Although Israelis treat these impossible numbers with disdain, Iranian and Arab opposition media promote them to a naive, sheepish world to develop the perception of a fractured Israel.

The demographic tipping point toward more religious representation in Israel's security, military and government has already occurred. It is a statistical point from which there is no return yet some would prefer to control their destiny. To that Prime Minister Netanyahu recently stated Israel is a “country with an army, not an army with a country” which was followed by a decision to ban Ehud Barak from giving his annual address to senior officers of Israel's Defense Force. This, combined with Benny Gantz departure from the War Cabinet indicates the political war is warming up.

Before the tragic events of October 2023, opposition to reform was concentrated, intense and momentous. Since that time many less controversial reforms have progressed into law. This long existential war, the passage of time and weaponization of the country's first National Guard, under the one-time expenditure and direction of Internal Security Minister Ben Gvir, has permanently reversed the real risk of a civil war. Now, the forthcoming USA elections will bear significantly on the challenge that lies ahead. One way or another, the majority of Israeli's have been reminded that they stand alone, responsible for themselves, their people, their nation and their land - from the river to the sea! 

 

 

  

 

The Oppressors Imposition

Victimhood has well served Qatar’s Muslim Brotherhood push to impose an unfortunate identify on people living under the Palestinian authority and Hamas. In the past decades the Palestinian cause has actively grown its distinctive brand beginning with its unique Palestinian keffiyeh followed by the flag of its national ideology. In the 1960's it was popularized by the founder of the modern movement for Palestine Yasser Arafat. He wore it on all occasions until it became symbolic of the Islamic cause which obtained foundation when it was embraced by Democrats in the USA under President Barack Obama. 

Since the early eighties Israel often claimed to be the victim of the violent terror against it, but rarely succeeded to hold the line for more than a few weeks on each unfortunate occasion. During thirty years of Oslo Accords Israel's comparative tragedy has been less effective than the Arab victims entrapped in their Palestinian tragedy by Qatar, Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. Victimhood became Qatar's philosophical high ground. Cunningly and by default, Israel's self-proclaimed, Zionist inspired national flag became a symbol of the oppressor and invisible shield for the impostor. 

To understand the victim - oppressor phenomenon faced by Israel, in context of its Zionist imposition one must also look to Qatar's geopolitical drama. Sandwiched between arch enemies Saudi Arabia and Iran, Qatari logic is Middle Eastern where attack is the best form of defense. As such Qatar is vested to disrupt Israel, the unifying enemy, and its Zionist narrative against aggressive Muslim Brotherhood imperialism. 

Qatar faces Israel's rising threat to its regional Brotherhood opportunity primarily because Mediterranean sourced natural pipeline gas, procured and secured by Israel for supply to Europe, will significantly disrupt Qatar and its gas field partner Iran's more expensive, liquified gas. Israel’s massive underwater pipeline initiative is supported and secured by German supplied submarines and will bring prosperity to Greece, Italy, Israel, Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon. Further Israeli secured Mediterranean pipeline gas is a key to dislodging Russian dominance over European energy. 

Qatar is determined to pursue its pan Syria-Turkey-Europe gas pipeline dream that inspires them to invest in the entrapment of Arabs under the Palestinian Authority and Hamas. These Arab victims are Qatar's sentimental tools to enlist sympathetic voices and supporters that dominate attention and influence over government policies in foreign countries, particularly the USA.

Meanwhile, Russian tension in Ukraine keeps Europe from developing alternative natural gas pipelines from eastern Europe that would further reduce Russian dominance. Time is working in Israel's favor as it develops an increasingly likely European energy supply despite its battle against Qatari sponsored negative public sentiment. The road ahead is complex, but the reward is annual GDP approaching tens of billions of dollars.

While geopolitics dominates national agenda's Israel must extricate itself from the oppressors imposition. Liberals in the USA and Europe are pacifists, mindful of Islamic constituencies and Qatari backing, but a cornerstone of Qatar's geopolitical, philosophical and religious agenda is Arab entrapment. 

Israel's moral compass and conviction represents the greatest hope of freeing Arabs from the cruel Qatari sponsored entrapment by proxies Hamas and The Palestinian Authority. Israel must step out into the limelight, it must take the high ground and call out the impostor who pretends in order to deceive others for fraudulent gain. Qatar has painted Israel as the oppressor, which it is not, now its time for Israel to call Qatar out as the greatest impostor, defrauding Arabs under Hamas and the Palestinian Authority of their true freedom and human rights. 

Supporting:

   https://israelslingshot.org/

 

Programmed Haredi Opposition vs. GDP Contribution

The programmed attack, by so many Israelis, on Hareidim (the religious who wear black), those who dedicate their early life to Torah study and often continue into institutionalized Yeshiva life, is relentless. Their basis for attack is largely unwarranted except for the compounding fact that institutionalized Haredim default to extend Torah study and through it justify their avoiding compulsory service in Israel's defense force (IDF). These people are supported by their Rabbinical heads, much to the ire of Israel's secular and other religious communities. 

The Haredi Torah enterprise is an extremely successful machine, funded and financed by massive flows of foreign and domestic private sector philanthropy and government funding. Among those who exit institutionalized Torah study, some become independently wealthy and continue to finance and support the institutions and their people.

I have tried to aggregate the total of all private sector philanthropy dedicated to Haredi communities, but the government does not openly promote this statistic. In my estimate it warrants inclusion in the annual economic reporting of domestic GDP because it would certainly be a significant private sector contribution, likely to exceed $1 billion annually. Unreported GDP of this magnitude underlies ignorance among the wider community of Israelis.

What motivates the private sector to support such an enterprise is complex, but Haredim present the most successful model for Jewish continuity of any other Jewish segment, worldwide, by far and that may be the ultimate reason. 

Further, Haredi enlistment into the IDF is very low and the problem exacerbated by institutionalized sectors of  Haredi community who are typically older than 21, and who continue married life, centered around the Yeshiva, without ever pursuing regular forms of employment. Arab sectors of Israeli society who also have very low enlistment rates also drain taxpayer funding through educational institutions of Israel. The problem is not limited to Haredim, yet they remain the target of attack.

Efforts are underway to improve Haredi enlistment, but its high time the Haredi leaders and Israel's government fight for improved transparency so the nation can become more aware of their important economic contribution to the country.

Two State Impossibility!

Corruption, virulent orators and criminals

Most people governed by the Palestinian Authority or Hamas are not indigenous nor do they share common nationhood. The significant majority descend from Arab immigrant laborers who came from Syria, Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon. There are smaller representations from prior to 1948, but most trace their roots to indigenous tribes of other countries. 

These mixed clans were the Arab underclass, vulnerable to corrupt or criminal gang leaders who exploited their absent nationhood with disastrous affect. Since the 1970's rival quasi-political groups, that became Fattah and Hamas, sold themselves as political parties that could establish and lead a cohesive, prosperous Palestinian nation. As we know that did not occur, most of their rhetoric promoted self-serving opportunities for individual economic gain at the people's expense.

The failure to self-govern opened the door to virulent orators, benevolent dictators and criminals who exploited global antisemitism or anti-Israel sentiment to deflect abstract failure, blame Israel and raise funds for the so called anti-Jew 'Palestinian cause' and enrich themselves. Despite support of global liberal democracies, these Arabs have not elected representatives for more than 15 years, yet sponsorship from nations has been abundant. Not surprisingly western nations compromised their long upheld democratic values and joined others to back anti-Zionist protagonists who suppressed the voices of these disparate Arab clans under the thin Palestinian veil. 

Since the late 1970's Fattah and Hamas leaders, of these 4 million broken people, pushed the armed struggle against Israel to the front of their radicalized political agenda's. The events of Simchat Torah 5784 (October 7, 2023) brought the ugly reality of 'Palestinian' people to a shocking head and apparent realization. Now, Israel has been forced to expand its active responsibility for the security of its citizens and resident aliens, between the river and the sea. 

Israeli hostages, presently captive in Gaza, are mostly from liberal Kibbutz families of the South. Many have worked tirelessly over decades to assist Gaza residents to gain work opportunities in Israel. Now those families are desperately trying to shift their nations priority to the plight of loved ones, against the nations preferred priority to defeat Hamas. These families will be politically exploited as globalists fund  sponsorship of more domestic unrest and bring Israelis to accept the priority of hostages over destruction of Hamas. 

The so called nation of "Palestinian People" does not exist and never will, but the plight of the Arabs who presently live under these corrupt authorities must be presented with options for better lives. Despite attempts by foreign actors to recognize a Palestinian state, Israel will ultimately offer residents pathway to status as an Israeli resident alien followed by a multi-year probationary citizenship and ultimately citizenship to the United nation of Israel.

Now Israel is, for the first time, facing its toughest challenge, rising anti-Semitism, anti-Zionism and anti Israel pressures. It will face rising domestic security costs and heightened domestic rhetoric while it comprehends and prepares for a secure, one state future in which Jewish Sovereignty, from the river to the sea, will finally be constitutionally guaranteed by the equivalent of a Jewish senate. 

Who Wants To Speak Like Ben-Gvir?

Most will react, "not me", but why? Consider this:

The term "Big Bang" is insensitive to unimaginable quantum states that turned on spacetime, particles, elements, stars and galaxies, but mostly, because the universe has no center the term is also grossly inaccurate.

3 billion acids, attached to sugars, make up DNA of the human genome. A change to any can lead to the birth of a super talented individual, a genius, a leader who stands out from the crowd, or it may cause excessive anxiety, depression, suffering, disease and even death. Technologies manipulate DNA, test results and compute vast cellular networks that inform us about previously unknown sensitive, but transformative events. 

The Bible recalls that one frog emerged from the Nile and resulted in a plague of frogs that engulfed Ancient Egypt. We can only imagine this super-species was initiated through a small DNA alteration, in a progenitor, that rapidly accumulated and was programmed to annihilate shortly after its ascent onto land. 

Some plagues in Egypt were easily replicated by the necromancer opponents of Moses. Others distracted them, caused their concentration lapse and suddenly they were defeated. We disconnect from the sensitivities behind these events because our noisy world distracts us. 

Simchat Torah 5784 (7 October 2023) marked a distraction with disastrous affect for Israel. The Jewish people have always experienced periods of unification followed by utter distraction that plunged them into the abyss of suffering. On each occasion Israel has valiantly returned from its exiled state to a heightened awareness where people speak more kindly of each other. 

Indeed the Hebrew word for speak is also the plague of pestilence or דבר (DeVeR) the preceded hail or ברד (BaRaD) through a one letter switch that changed the outcome for millions. 

We hate our present state of exile, our suffering, but it reminds us to be aware, to speak more kindly of each other and to anticipate the delicate possibility of redemption. In suffering we suppress our base, emotional instincts to amplify our personal voices and attack others. In good times the status-quo is nice, life is generally good, that's when we can sink to defend our comfort.

We may not like what Ben-Gvir has to say, or how his offensive confronts us and our preference to deny uncomfortable, inconvenient truths about frenemies. Apparently, for some, he promotes suffering and how do we respond? We attack the disrupter of our comfortable beliefs, our status-quo! We protest, amplify our voices, disrupt others and become polarized. Then, redemption dissipates and distraction passes the baton to enemies who are patient, dedicated and poised to dispel their disaster upon us.

A laissez faire approach to Palestinian frenemies, by Israel's elected governments of the past 30 years, resulted in Hamas rising, arming, training and unfortunately exploiting the inconvenient truth. We must wise up, respect each other, focus on security and let Israel's politicians do our tough talking, but we must not let this moment pass, we must demand they do more.

For the honor of those who have fallen and those, 100 days later, who continue suffering the most, we should all endeavor to make Simchat Torah 5784 the beginning of our full and final redemption.

The New, Better Israel

MK Simcha Rothman,
 Chairman of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee

Israeli disunity and distress leading up to the Simchat Torah 5783 (October 7, 2023) attack parallels ancient events. To understand these I provide some background.

The holiday of our Redemption is commonly known as Passover or Pesach and the traditional meal ends with participants saying: “Next Year in Jerusalem”. That would be ok, unless your dinner happens to be located in Jerusalem, where all attendees sing out the same ‘Next year in Jerusalem’. Seems strange doesn’t it? 

The universal tradition renders it a personal statement. Regardless of location, each attendee has not realized their fullest redemption from self imposed exile, perhaps it will be, next year.

The traditional Seder dinner focuses on the story of Israel’s exodus from Egypt, in Hebrew Mitzrayim. The word rendered as: M-tZ-R-Y-M can be segmented as Ma-tZ-eR Ya-M, translated as ‘Sea of Distress’. In other words, in Egypt, Israel was drowning in a Sea of Distress. 

Israelite enslavement started under an Egyptian Pharoah whose ministers grew anxious that Israel's flourishing population posed a civil threat that could topple their regime. The antidote was a birth control decree that banned male babies, requiring them to be killed at birth. This exacerbated the national distress for millions of Israelites as Egyptian authorities pursued pregnant mothers. 

The Bible explains this is the time that Moses was born, rescued and raised in the palace of Pharaoh. When he was older he became incensed by an Egyptian taskmasters abuse of an Israelite woman and subsequent beating of her husband. Moses struck out and killed the Egyptian.

Had it not been for Israelite disunity Moses could have triggered the rebellion Egyptians feared most. Instead the victim blamed Moses for highlighting their plight. accused him of being a self-appointed judge and reported his action to the authorities. Moses fled and Israel's torturous conditions prevailed.

Now, our babies have been dismembered, murdered, kidnapped, as hostages our woman raped and our men beaten. Is this the result of our Israelite disunity, our national disorder that appears to parallel events in Egypt? On Simchat Torah the disunity was brought to a head. Now Israel has choices to make, either prolong the suffering, like it was in Egypt, or come to the full behavioral realization that our redemption moment has arrived. Take it or leave it. 

In the words of MK Simcha Rothman, chairman of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee: "When the war is over, we will all be different. Because we learned something. My camp created a great deal of fear in people and did not do enough to reduce the fear. In the future, I will do everything not to pry into the other side's wounds in a manner that would make them unable to listen".

This time we must be different, politics has its place as it must, but we are above that and this is our moment to shine! 

We must not allow this holy day to be denigrated by calling it 10/7, 7/10 or the October 7 massacre. Instead, in honor to those who have sacrificed the most, we must elevate it to the highest spiritual order. It is Israel's calling, its Simchat Torah Redemption - soon in Jerusalem! 

Government Reform Must Break the Status Quo!

In memory of Asher and Yaakov

Conversing with Israeli's about a one or two state solution can be a minefield. Those who want democracy-for-all are conflicted by the nature of Israel's neighbors, autocrats leading parliaments committed to religious ideologies just like the Palestinian Authority. For the past 16 years the major democracies have granted this Authority a no-election free-pass because its leader, Mahmoud Abbas, risks losing power to even more radical ideologists. 

Israel's' democracy-idealists are further conflicted by the fear they may be uprooted from their beloved homeland by a non-Jewish majority in a hypothetical single democratic state. Their concern is presently reflected in the behavior of the Palestinian Authority who will not tolerate Jewish representation in its government.

With no sign of peace the 40 year status quo is untenable and people on both sides continue to loose life in the tit-for-tat war against terror. Israel's romance with a democratic ideal may become intolerable and increasingly to blame for the ongoing loss of life. One must ask whether Israel's democratic idealists have come to accept loss of Jewish life as collateral in much the same way Muslim terrorists embrace their martyrs? 

The modern view of Israel's Jewish historical democracy is nearly always flawed, ignorant of the facts. Its ancient Jewish democracy was always governed by religious elders that comprised the main body of its legal and enforcement authority. Transfer of authority was autocratic through Semicha, or 'Standing' granted by incumbents to new authoritarians. One of today's arguments for judicial reform, by Israel's present government, is that its Justices have embraced authoritarianism, under a democracy that no longer resembles the indigenous framework that once tolerated it. 

Crosslinking risk to homeland, ongoing terror and the democratic ideal uphold the status quo. Like the well known business triangle, you can get something 'cheap' and 'good', but not 'quick', any two, but three cannot be logically connected. As a result Israeli's are begin to conclude that no-risk to homeland and peace is preferable to the foreign democratic ideal. Social and political change is resulting from Israel's seismic demographic shift. Innovative forms of government will ultimately enable Jewish sovereignty over its homeland and security for people in a government framework that moves the status quo toward a better outcome for all.

Israel's Electoral College presently oversees the periodic election of senior Rabbinical leaders from its hundreds of liberal and conservative communities in cities nationwide. With constituent support it can demand and deliver an elected upper house to Israel's Knesset that will yield two important requirements: 1. Ensure Jewish sovereignty in its system of government and 2. Permit the modernization of some of the nations ancient religious laws. In such a case representatives from any ethnic background may be elected to the lower Knesset, but only Rabbinical leaders may be elected to the upper Knesset where they would authorize bills exclusively introduced and drafted by the lower Knesset. 

The novel combination of this hybrid-authoritarian democracy would enable Israel to offer its aliens permanent residency and after qualifying, ultimately citizenship. This would embrace the majority of people trapped by the corrupted autocrats occupying Israel's land from the Shomron to Gaza under the Palestinian Authority and Hamas. Israel would finally be freed from its two-state quagmire and from the double standards of foreign governments and idealists that hold it to account. 

 

 

Israel's Trajectory To Theocratic Democracy

The first working session of Israel's 37th government took place on the 1st of January 2023, international new years day. A significant challenge of its term will be fending off foreign pressure, including the UN and the International Court that will no doubt attempt to find and declare Israel guilty of various crimes. However, these opinions are less important than Israel's domestic conflict between its religious and secular authorities. The recent decision by its Supreme Court against Aryeh Deri, Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Shas Party has exposed this conflict and will polarize the nation to carefully consider its judicial future. 

The response from Deri's party; "...Shas is studying this painful decision and will decide on its next steps in accordance with the guidance of the Council of Torah Sages." Previously Shas said that Prime Minister would decide what to do with Deri, after that the Council of Torah Sages would decide what they will do. The rhetoric is loud as the opposition and executives of Israel diaspora NGO's object to the forthcoming draft legislation that will finally, decidedly enable the elected government to legislate around the Supreme Court.

The last Pew poll to consider how democracy relates to Israel's religious secular divide, exposed a 2016 problem, which today is acutely reflected in the strong religious representation of the 2023 government. The poll identified a nuanced view that has been exacerbated by the Deri decision, the policy of the government and its Justice Minister, Yariv Levin who intends to reduce the powers of the Supreme Court over the countries duly elected government. The opposition have conveniently characterized the moment as a democratic constitutional crises, but they have little control because the Israeli public already granted the coalition government the most significant mandate in recent memory. 

International pressure on this constitutional issue may be muted, but nations will rise against Israel's increasingly religious society who will be motivated to deliver a unified domestic response to any foreign anti-Israel sentiment. The poll suggests a rising desire from religious and secular communities to elevate their elected liberal and conservative Rabbis, of Israel's synagogues, to the political arena to declare and stamp Israel's unique brand of justice and sovereignty into its system of government. The Deri decision opened the window for these duly elected Rabbis to extend their constitutional voice to promote their ascension to an upper house and transform Israel's present unicameral Knesset. 

In a final blow to the decaying British structure, Israel's government and democracy is on track to return its indigenous way of government: A bicameral Knesset with its upper house of elected Torah Sages, Rabbis, a 'Sanhedrin' with the constitutional authority to approve secular and religious law, to forge one body of law for the entire nation and prepare to realize its destiny as a sovereign, theocratic democracy. 

 

Democracy vs. Sovereignty

How certain is the future of Jewish sovereignty over Israel? When asked, most Jews will respond without any real understanding of its implications. They may mean Israel should never fall into the hands of a non-Jewish group or nation that doesn't identify themselves as Jews. But, how can such an outcome be assured given the democracy Israel’s modern state claims in its now fungible Basic Law of 1948. Surely a democracy means that all people living within a nation’s borders must enjoy an equal right to vote? If so, how long will Israel hedge its, river to the sea, border claims against ‘two states’ which have prevented resident aliens from diluting its democracy and Jewish sovereignty?

This thorny question is often the root cause of extreme disagreement among Jews. Some religious fundamentalists claim Israel does not require a state, that Israel is a spiritual ideal defined in the psyche of its people. On the other hand those that rely on Israel’s State law and its response to International Law focus on the physical definition of national borders as determined by the prevailing consensus. The diversity presents the dilemma of a nation seeking a sovereign guarantee for their Jewish, ‘democratic’ ideal.

Under the two-state-solution, once the shared dream of its President Shimon Peres, Israel would have been divided into a Jewish and a non-Jewish state under the Palestinian Authority. However, after significant resistance on both sides, the internationally sponsored idea has failed. In the midst of the political fury, legal opposition and terror Israel equivocates as it grapples with the threat a single state may pose to its Jewish ideal.

Regardless of Israel’s present, positive Jewish demographic trend, risk to Jewish sovereignty, in a single democratic state, from the Jordan river to the Mediterranean Sea, that incorporates all resident aliens, is too much for the Jewish Israeli electorate to bare. Alternatively, giving up security control to an enemy occupying land controlled, but not presently annexed by Israel is controversial, daunting and impractical. The untenable advance of terrorism and global rhetoric is often more alarming to Israel's Jewish electorate than the prospect of losing its Jewish majority in a future single state. The status quo is ineffective, a drain on national and individual prosperity. 

Who can guarantee Jewish sovereignty? The Supreme Court are disinterested and international pressure is growing. The question is increasingly serious, rising up in the minds of Israel's Jewish constituents. Existing mechanisms within the states legal construct are limited, but there is one that fully satisfies the essential guarantee. Compare the United Kingdom with its King and Church of England, Denmark with its Evangelical Lutheran constitution, Italy with its Vatican, Iran with its Ayatollah, Saudi Arabia with its King and Mecca. Although some of the western states identify as religious, their constitutions separate church and state. Similarly, Israel has an inherent solution to its Jewish sovereignty problem, a model that makes sense, is already partially active and works.

Whether secular or religious, the vast majority of Israel’s Jewish electorate periodically participate in religious services of a local synagogue. Through these community synagogues, elected, municipally appointed City Rabbis are nominated by a legally established Electoral Committee that represents communal religious interests. One of those interests is Jewish sovereignty guaranteed by national rabbinical representation in a future Senate or Upper House of Israel’s Knesset (parliament). That may be a confronting prospect to many, but the national benefits for all, Jewish or non-Jewish citizens and alien-residents, are presently misunderstood and underappreciated. 

Many popular elected City Rabbi’s^[1] are self-motivated to empower community voices through their electoral framework and elevate it to Israel's national political stage. Others require replacement by younger, more active and knowledgeable representatives. Rabbinical representation in a bicameral government of a single Jewish state is complex, but societal demands are rising as a result of dedicated grass roots participation. Town hall meetings, community activities, representations organized by appointed City Rabbis and leaders are and will be hallmarks that signify the success of this future movement. Education and awareness that a Sovereign Rabbinical body, elected to the Upper House of Israel's parliament, can truly be representative and liberating will underly the ground swell of this Jewish indigenous ideal. 

Shifting government priority from its present emphasis on defense, energy and technology to also develop labor intensive domestic industry around Israel's rich cultural principles will be essential to satisfy Israel’s growing constituent underclass. Political parties that prioritize development of sustainable industries capable of employing a significant portion of the unemployed and non-participating^[2] workforce will benefit. Israel’s indigenous cultural prerogative, including toward the optimal growth of cultural tourism, is a principle that will serve the prosperity of Jewish and non-Jewish populations of a single, sovereign, Jewish state. The development of skills^[3] directed to economic benefits associated with Jewish sovereignty will ultimately deliver better financial distribution to the broader population.

Objectors may struggle to digest such a prospect: A democratic-theocracy that stacks its constitutional Jewish sovereign deck in favor of its Jewish population by its Jewish religious leaders in an upper house of its government. Jewish sovereignty looms large, but the embrace of non-conventional models, inspired by the ancient past, would for the first time in 2000 years also establish an authoritative, representative religious body licensed to decide its ancient religious laws. 

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[1] http://www.geocities.com/savepalestinenow/israellaws/fulltext/jewishreliserviceslaw.htm 

[2] http://www.financeisrael.mof.gov.il/FinanceIsrael/Docs/En/The_Israeli_Economy.pdf 

[3] http://skills.oecd.org/supplyskills/documents/21abclabourforceparticipationbygenderandage2010.html 

Democratic Israel - Secular or Sovereign Theocracy?

Israel Defense Force
Ultra-orthodox recruits

Since 1949 students attending Yeshiva have been exempt from national service and their learning institutions have been eligible for government funded benefits. In 2017 Israel's Supreme Court ruled that a new Draft Law would be required to change the 70 year-old practices of non-Zionist, ultra-orthodox, religious communities by ensuring their greater participation in national service. As Defense Minister Lieberman negotiated with representatives of these communities, but failed to reach an agreement over the inclusion of quota's and penalties for non-adherence. The Rabbinical leaders took umbrage that Lieberman wanted to legislate to ensure their good faith. When Lieberman discovered his Prime Minister supported the Rabbi's, he resigned from office and removed his political party from the coalition sending the country to new elections.

Perhaps the only mandate of last April 9, pre-Passover election was whether Bibi should be indicted while sitting as Prime minister, many more important questions failed to capture the electorate. On April 10 it seemed Bibi would be back with a majority, the initiated knew it would be tough to negotiate and Lieberman would be toughest of all, but very few doubted the formation of a government.

Most Israeli's, including Liberman and Netanyahu have family members that are religious so they may be sympathetic to some national religious laws and practices that impact their secular lives, but for others tolerance is scarce. For Lieberman the secular Jewish State is sacrosanct! Despite low participation the non-Zionist, ultra-orthodox sector has and continues to attract foreign philanthropy that provides a significant boost to Israel's economy. This election must decide whether the secular distrust of these religious leaders, that underscores Lieberman's Draft Law is a legislative necessity. It must also determine Israel's commitment to the US sponsored push for peace and the permanency of a divided Jerusalem.

Jared Kushner's recent, trip to North Africa. the Middle East and Israel crashed into Liberman's iceberg - in the desert. The much anticipated push for Trump's Deal of The Century, was slowed to a crawl first awaiting whether or not Israel will uphold the opinion of their religious leaders. If affirmative, Israel will begin its progressive transformation from a secular-democracy to democratic-theocracy. The religious-center and right wing will be strengthened. Secular voters will be split and the extreme-left will join Liberman in opposition. What that means for peace and the division of Jerusalem is unknown, but support for these issues have never been dependent on Israel's electorate, but its enemies Fatah and Hamas.

In the upcoming pre-Rosh Hashana (Jewish New Year) election, Lieberman's red-line will polarize religious and secular communities. Last April 10 Israel learned its previous election fate, on September 18 it will learn its next decision - both days have interesting history. 5 Nissan/10April, was the day Moses dispatched spies to report about Israel's future land, but their divided opinions caused pandemonium and split the nation. 18 Elul/18 September is strongly associated with the modern movement of orthodox Hasidim:- It's the day the Ba'al Shem Tov and the Alter Rebbe were born and the Maharal of Prague died, all are connected with the Chabad phenomena and worldwide post-war return to Judaism.

I am looking forward to Israel increasing its Torah aware elected representation, which will of course be opposed by secularists. However I believe the nation is returning to its indigenous root and will eventually establish an elected Rabbinical House of Lords that will appoint a King who will build the Temple in Jerusalem!