Noa Landau: 75 YEARS OF ISRAEL/75 YEARS OF NAKBA

Alexandra Föderl-Schmid in conversation with Noa Landau
75 YEARS OF ISRAEL / 75 YEARS OF NAKBA

In Israel a far-right-wing coalition government has emerged after the last election. The policies it seeks to implement conflict with constitutional principles. Its aim is to strengthen the executive power and weaken the courts and their liberal tendencies. In response, the civilian population has mobilized, and since then large protests have taken place to fight the changes in the judiciary. These protests have overshadowed the state of Israel’s 75th anniversary.

The protesters include a broad civil society consisting not only of progressive, politically active people but also of people who consider themselves liberal or centrist without usually being very political. Noa Landau describes this as a political awakening, with the common goal of stopping the government’s restructuring of the judiciary. The question is how the current emergence of political activism will be translated into the future political sphere.

Which path Israel will take is difficult to say. However, the current events draw a decisive line. Israel can move towards a nationalist, illiberal state or it can turn away from these tendencies and preserve liberal democracy. Regarding the two-states solution, Noa Landau highlights in her talk with Alexandra Föderl-Schmid,,the importance of a liberal, democratic state of Israel as a basis for its implementation. It is also important to remember that democracy in Palestine is not possible as long as it is occupied by Israel.

Noa Landau, deputy chief editor, HAARETZ

Alexandra Föderl-Schmid, deputy chief editor SÜDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG