{Originally posted to the author’s website } Imagine that a defiantly secular, left-of-center government is formed later this fall, comprising Blue & White, Israel Beytenu, Labor-Gesher, the Democratic Union and the United Arab List – and that it sets out to “fully democratize” Israel. December 2019: Justice Minister Avigdor Liberman introduces and passes in Knesset a new Basic Law: Freedom of and from Religion. The law states that “the institutions of state shall not provide or insinuate a preference for religion, or for one denomination within a religion, over other religions or denominations.” Liberman proudly proclaims that “this important amendment will bring Israel into line with the enlightened democracies of the Western world.” Responding to expressions of concern by the religious public, religious members of the coalition like Chili Tropper of Blue & White and Yair (Yaya) Fink of the Democratic Union say that they have received assurances from the Prime Minister that he is “committed to preserving the Jewish character of the state.” Minister of Environment Yoaz Hendel expresses confidence that Judaism will flourish by competing openly in the free marketplace of ideas without state support. January 2020: Basing itself on the new Basic Law, the Supreme Court […]
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