Israel Seriously Polarized, and in Trouble, 2023

Send us Fan MailThis is the kind of podcast I try to avoid. a discussion of an issue that is ongoing.  The problem is that it might evolve in a different direction and I would be exposed as someone who had seriously misunderstood the issues or missed key points.  I remember writing a podcast on the Ukraine-Russia controversy.  The next morning when I went into my office to record it, I realized that Russia had invaded Ukraine as I slept.  (Darn you, Putin.  He had said he was not going to invade.  Liar, Liar.  Pants on fire).  That new development did not affect my observations (which were good) but I decided to add a couple of extra paragraphs to update the commentary. For over 30 months now (it is August 2023) the Israeli public has been in turmoil, resisting the extremist Netanyahu government.  ("The most extreme I have  seen. And that goes back to Golda Meir," according to Joe Biden).  Netanyahu is trying to push through  a change in the legal system so that the Supreme Court could no longer reject a law that violated its Basic Laws (the closest thing Israel has to a constitution).   Sometimes there have been protests involving 200,000 people.  (And counter-protests).  Many suspect Netanyahu is also trying to figure out how to get himself freed from prosecution. Israel is now seriously polarized around these issues.  Why and how did this happen?  I offer some hypotheses based on some social science theories, some comments by Israeli analysts, and some personal observations.  And I draw some parallels with our own country, which is also polarized.  Note:  I included 2023 in the title because someone said, "you need to do that.  You will have to do another podcast on this topic in the future, and your listeners need to know which particular crisis you are discussing." Glitch:  Somewhere in the middle of this podcast, I used the wrong word.  I have forgotten what it is but you will notice it.  Sorry about that.