Israel Is in the Middle of a Summer of Mass Unrest
Amid this summer’s massive protests, Benyamin Netanyahu’s grip on Israel’s political consciousness began to crack for the first time in a decade. But repairing the damage he’s done to the country’s political landscape will take years.
Israeli protesters at a demonstration in Jerusalem. (Amir Levy / Getty Images)
July was supposed to be a crowning month for Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli right wing. Despite three charges of bribery and corruption, and three election cycles in one year, Netanyahu managed to capture a fourth term as prime minister.
The coronavirus and the ensuing state of emergency were Netanyahu’s lucky charm. They forced a “corona coalition,” a patchwork of right-wing parties and fractured parties from the center-left, including Netanyahu’s rival, former Chief of the General Staff Benny Gantz, whose Blue and White Party broke from their alliance.
The public approved of the government’s management of the pandemic. Infection rates remained steady. A three-week general lockdown saw minimal resistance — despite the government’s approval to track civilians’ cell phones without a warrant.
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