In Israel, the mass protests continue despite the temporary halt to the controversial judicial reform. Middle East expert Natan Sachs explains what drives people and why Prime Minister Netanyahu has lost his “magic touch”.
Demonstrations have been taking place in Israel for months. This week they peaked. What drives people onto the streets?
The protests we are currently witnessing in Israel are unprecedented. The trigger was the government’s planned judicial reform. But with that comes the greater concern that Israel is moving ever further from a democratic state toward an electoral autocracy. A place where there are elections but where the majority can do whatever they want without being checked.
At the moment, most Israelis no longer have confidence that the current government is acting in the interests of the people. That’s why people from all walks of life are taking to the streets and shouting “democracy”.