by Avi Abelow
Now, let’s contrast those moments with the current protests against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
This government was elected in free and fair elections. Yet from day one, the Left has treated its victory as illegitimate, launching aggressive, often disruptive protests. But what exactly are they protesting?
They’re not protesting violations of the law. They’re protesting legal actions taken by a duly elected government—actions entirely within the government’s rights.
Consider two examples:
Replacing the head of the Shin Bet: A legal and routine decision within the government’s authority.
Firing the Attorney General: Also, entirely legal. In fact, a precedent exists—Attorney General Yitzhak Zamir was dismissed in 1986 under the joint government of Menachem Begin and Shimon Peres.
These are not constitutional crises. They are legitimate exercises of power. Yet the Left’s response has been to block roads, clash with police, storm the Knesset, intimidate members of Knesset and wage international pressure campaigns—not because democracy is in danger, but because they lost an election.
The difference is crystal clear.
When the Right protests, it is in defense of democratic values against governments that ignore the people’s will, break the law, or enact radical policies without a mandate.
When the Left protests, it is because a democratically elected government is making legal decisions they dislike.
As protest leader Ami Dror proudly declared, “We have blocked all the entrances to the Knesset. This is how you stop a dictatorship.” But there is no dictatorship. Blocking elected representatives from voting in the Knesset is the very definition of undermining democracy.
So let’s ask the fundamental question: Which camp truly respects democracy—and which is working to subvert it?
The facts speak for themselves.