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.

Deep Healing From A Security Disaster

Ehud Barak’s IDF ‘old guard’ assaulted and recruited left wing IDF commanders reducing their desire, will, aptitude and moral clarity to immediately respond to critical security signals. On that tragic Simchat Torah day the apathetic, tardy IDF response will, in retrospect, be judged heinous, bordering treason, for some senior officers.

Against the backdrop of judicial reform, Lapid’s social revolt breathed life into Barak’s cessation by coup d’etat that extrinsically graded less important regions, neighborhoods, citizens and people of Israel. That moral corruption on top of the Supreme Court’s conflict with its non-governable state systematically eroded the security fabric of Israel’s society.

Events have now cast the dye for Israeli’s. The risk to security ineptitude is now far greater than any benefit egregious, revolutionary, anti-government, political insurrection can offer them. The behavior of revolt is off the table and will not be tolerated by the Israeli regime being defined by these events.

Two Supreme Court decisions over the past few days have set new precedent for the courts 'hands off government' stance. Whether they maintain that standard is yet to be seen, but the message is being delivered and people in high places will be cautious, tentative even anxious about a future in which the mechanism of government are no longer subject to the whims of the political elite.

Tel Aviv is the most ‘ethnically cleansed’ city in Israel, a place where few Arabs are employed, relative to population. The angry left, who only a few months back led revolt against the rising religious are now fighting side-by-side with their brothers coming to the fast realization that ethnic sentiments ought to be redirected to their common security insurrections including from more broadly defined terrorism.

One can only hope this has forged a new political reality in which the left, right, religious and secular elevate an uncompromising security ideal to new heights across all walks of Israeli, its neighboring and global societal security interests.

The months ahead will be difficult, but the decades, after this painful period, will no doubt be brighter than ever.

The Israel vs Palestine Debate

If you ever found yourself in the hotly contested debate about occupation in Israel, you probably had to make a fight or flight decision to jump in, raise your blood pressure and argue your point or get out with your emotions in check. The subject seems to attract people who are motivated for many different reasons, none of which make this thorny subject any easier to navigate. For the purpose of this article lets just assume you are going to stay and argue. Therefore, given the diverse supercharged field, I highly suggest you do your homework and always take the offensive, you're going to need it.

In September 1970 Jordan's King declared a state of military rule to thwart an attempt to overthrow him. Following the brutal deaths and expulsion of thousands of Jordanian Fatah revolutionary fighters, the Black September organization was formed. In 1972 Black September raised their international awareness when they killed two and kidnapped nine members of the Israeli Olympic team in Munich. Under the banner of Fatah the, 10 year old, Palestinian Liberation Organization cooperated with Black September operatives and turned their attention toward domestic Israel.

By the early eighties there were few walls, barriers or fences between Jews, Arabs and Christians living in Israel. Until the Oslo Accords in 1993, life was a 'box of chocolates'. Kids would cross roads, streams and wide, open fields riding their bikes through each others neighborhoods. Adult's would shop in each others villages or markets and communities would happily coexist. Then, in the positioning and lead up to Oslo, the official business got underway and in everyone's way!

Oslo Accords

I'd like to reflect on this history, but there seems little point because the positions and vested interests of debaters, on either side, are mostly intransigent. Instead I'm going to focus and equip you with the tool that can direct the argument at the 'box of chocolates' in an attempt to restore elements of that once prosperous condition.

In 2021, Israel's per capita GDP  was $52,000 vs $3700 for those living under Palestinian Authority (PA) control. The vast gap will never be narrowed by the PA because Israel's natural gas supply, to its domestic market, has significantly improved its economic efficiency. Gas, defense and dominant technology exports ensure its future economic performance will expand the gap at a faster rate. The charts below illustrate the acceleration of Israel's vs. PA per capita GDP over the past decade. 

Israeli Government per capita GDP $52,000

Palestinian Authority per capita GDP $3700

What does this all mean? People living under the PA are severely disadvantaged. The gap is inexcusable! By comparison landlocked Swaziland's 2021 per capita GDP was $3900. But belligerent, authoritarian political policies of PA leaders dissuade Israel from helping to restore the peoples advantage. Fearing electoral reprisal from Fatah's rival Hamas (Gaza), the PA have not held elections for 16 years. Corruption and organized crime have become rife as the leadership struggle continues in the streets. With the impending death of PA leader Mahmoud Abbas, change may usher in new hope that prosperity can be restored, but the chances are slim. 

Israel is the primary enabler of these authoritarian leaders who rule over people trapped by PA corruption, fear and the raw struggle for gang power. Israel must fill the void by formulating and offering the more prosperous alternative, one that will free people under the PA and weaken the grip of Fatah. Israel's direction and objective must support autonomous, elected city councils, provide umbrella economic oversight, policy coordination, administrative agreement, security coordination, infrastructure support, alien privilege, residency and ultimately full Israeli citizenship, for those who qualify and want it. In process and during progress toward these objectives, the walls and separation fences must come down. 

Prosperity for residents under the PA is their superior and primarily, desired objective. This sentiment will not be shared by terrorists and criminals who instill fear through which they silence opposition to command unchallenged media attention. However, Israel's surprise, genuine offer to integrate residents under the PA will no doubt throw the underworld into disarray. This is the right offer, and argument, because prosperity of all people is the only universal argument, after all everyone wants a 'box of chocolates'. 

And, if you're wondering how Israel will deal with such a proposition, I suggest you read this... 

 

 

 

   

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!