January 12, 2023

Netanyahu, the far right and the threat to Israel’s democracy

29 minutes

Benjamin Netanyahu is back in power at the head of the most right-wing government in Israel’s history. By allying himself with religious extremists including the Jewish Power Party, has the great escape artist of Israeli politics put his country’s democracy in the hands of theocrats? What do the new far-right ministers want? And will Netanyahu protect the rights of Arab Israelis, women and LGBTQ+ citizens the way he claims he will? Anshel Pfeffer, writer for Haaretz and Israel correspondent for the Economist, tells Andrew Harrison about the meaning of a dark new phase in Israeli politics.

“The centrist and centre left parties refused to sit in a government with Netanyahu≥ Now he’s fully reliant on the far right and the ultra orthodox parties”.

“The ultra orthodox are at most 20% of the population, but they’re the ones shoring up Netanyahu’s administration”.

“Netayahu says he’s the one who is safeguarding the freedoms of the Israeli public, rather than them being protected by the Government and the law”

Read Anshel Pfeffer in Haaretz: https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-01-06/ty-article/.highlight/the-end-of-israeli-democracy-its-real-but-can-still-be-prevented/00000185-8265-d4ba-add5-aaf74d660000

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Written and presented by Andrew Harrison. Producer: Jet Gerbertson. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Lead producer: Jacob Jarvis. Bunker music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production

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