Israel at a Crossroads: Will Netanyahu’s Power Grab End Democracy?
With democratic institutions under siege, calls grow for legal action against Netanyahu amid fears of dictatorship, civil unrest, and the collapse of judicial independence.
Watan-Netanyahu has left democracy’s defenders with only two choices: either submit passively and be crushed, or resist using the last remaining tools of the state, including the attorney general, the Supreme Court, and security institutions. In this context, Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar must declare that the situation is unstable and suspend his resignation.
The Chief of Staff must go further than dismissing General David Zini from the Israeli army. He should publicly oppose Netanyahu’s use of the army and soldiers for political ends. The fact that an airstrike nearly killed hostage Idan Alexander just minutes after Shin Bet’s Zohar Zamir claimed the operation posed no danger to hostages should force a deep reckoning with the army’s role in Israel’s history.
This may sound extreme to deaf ears—those ignoring the 20th century’s lessons—but Israel must now shift into emergency mode as a threatened democracy in self-defense. If the guardians of the threshold fail to act, Israel could devolve into a poor, isolated dictatorship, where soldiers are sacrificed, hostages left to die, and ethnic cleansing is normalized, as Zini himself openly suggested: “Forever.”
This is not just about Zini’s known messianic beliefs or Sara Netanyahu’s influence. The real crisis is the high-speed train headed straight for the cancellation of free elections. Anyone who watched Netanyahu’s recent press conference—spitting on the Supreme Court and defying the attorney general’s rulings, all while attempting to appoint a new Shin Bet chief—must understand what comes next.
Netanyahu is sabotaging the foundations of democracy and acting through betrayal of public trust. Can anyone guarantee he will abide by a court ruling that blocks Zini’s appointment?
Netanyahu should have been arrested immediately for his rebellion against the law. The judicial system now requires radical, urgent reform under the current conditions. Hesitating to interpret his intentions will plunge Israel into dictatorship. So far, the system has underestimated the depth of his destructive agenda.
The Supreme Court—and its former president Esther Hayut—stands at zero credibility. Judges are crushing the principle of equality before the law daily. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara hesitates to disqualify Netanyahu and recently reached a compromise with Ben Gvir rather than blocking his reappointment—a move that may prove disastrous.
If Netanyahu is arrested, the trial could become a media circus. His supporters may flood the streets armed, risking pre-civil war tensions. Netanyahu knows it. His opponents know it. And if that moment comes, Ben Gvir will use the police to crush opposition.
In this scenario, Ronen Bar’s presence in office is vital. By law, the Shin Bet’s role is to protect state security and the democratic order, and to prevent any illegal actions threatening either.
Delaying this essential process may appear logical—especially to avoid triggering international fallout—but Netanyahu has left the attorney general no choice. He has invited a confrontation. Therefore, she must immediately launch a criminal investigation.
He has betrayed public trust, and unless the law draws a clear red line now, Israel will bid farewell to free and fair elections. It’s no longer possible to close our eyes and hope for the best. A painful, frightening, and destabilizing confrontation may be unavoidable—but it is now necessary.
