Israel flounders.

MANY people point out that these are extraordinary times and that the world is in a state of ferment. The last few years have witnessed increasing chaos as the planet contends with disease, the devastating effects of climate change, a war between two nations that has caused misery worldwide, and growing financial challenges for countries and societies.

Together, these have brought desperation and anger to a boiling point, as people curse their governments for back-breaking inflation, for being unjust and using repressive tactics against them. The citizens of Ghana, Pakistan, Iran and France are all out protesting. Some participate in large public events, whose every moment is choreographed. Others just take to the streets in a swarm armed with sticks and stones and other improvised 'weapons' to make their discontent known.

The protesters that have been crowding the streets of Israel are marching to demonstrate against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's efforts to 'reform' the judicial system in that country and take away its independence by giving parliament, and essentially the party in power, the right to appoint all the judges. The protests have not simply meant people coming out to demonstrate. They have also meant calls for strikes, with flights not able to leave the airports and hospitals cancelling non-emergency treatment. Concerns have also gripped the forces, with military reservists joining the demonstrations.

While Israel has pretended to be the 'only' Middle Eastern nation to be a democracy, its actual politics have not followed the expected democratic trajectory - especially where human rights are concerned. It has been castigated internationally for treating Palestinians and Israeli-Arabs like criminals and subjecting them to the daily humiliation of endless checkpoints and searches, besides wrecking their homes, building on their lands and killing them with bombs and guns.

It is entirely possible that the Israelis are done with the autocratic drivel falling off the lips of a man they once thought made sense.

Today, the zeal with which Israel's far-right is trying to erode the powers of the instruments of state and making institutions subservient to the government of the day is perhaps unprecedented, as it affects more than just the Arab population.

On the face of it, Prime Minister Netanyahu has capitulated and delayed his 'reform' plans. With the number of protesters threatening to grow even more, he agreed to withdraw his...

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