A synopsis recently issued by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) opens with the following two paragraphs:

“In recent years we have witnessed a disturbing trend toward the erosion of democratic values in Israel and the promotion of anti-democratic initiatives. It is particularly alarming that democratic values are being undermined and the rules of the democratic process are being broken in the Knesset – Israel’s parliament and the heart and symbol of Israeli democracy. Statements and actions by senior political figures have far-reaching ramifications and influence on the attitudes of the Israeli public regarding democracy, human rights, and political, social and ethnic minorities.”

PM Netanyahu seated at the head of the government table in the Knesset plenum (Photo: Knesset)

“The most basic rules of the democratic game have repeatedly been challenged. The foundations of the democratic system have been attacked, including the separation of powers and respect for the office and function of the different branches and institutions that exist in a democracy; the role of civil society; and protection of human rights, for example the freedom of expression, the right to protest, and respect for the underlying value of equality. By using the ‘defensive democracy’ approach, these areas have been subjected to systematic erosion through biased and distorted interpretations.”

Download the full text of the ACRI analysis (13-page PDF file) in English.