Views commentary Americans Shouldn’t Lose Hope in Israeli Democracy T he indictment of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is an understandably confusing and emotional moment for American Jews. Thursday, Nov. 21, was a “dif- ficult and sad day” for Israelis, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit said when announc- ing the indict- ment. Netanyahu is the first sitting prime minister in Israel’ s history to face such a predicament. He stands charged with bribery, breach of trust and fraud in multiple cases, the most serious one involving an attempt to trade positive media coverage for regulatory favors. Netanyahu calls the charges “an attempted coup. ” In many respects, his defiant stance and refusal to step aside also are unprecedented. The confusion, uncertainty and anxiety of Israel’ s ongoing political stalemate add to the pain and discomfort. Not since the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin in 1995 has Israel seemed so imperiled from within, and it is natural for Diaspora Jewry to worry when the leader of the one and only Jewish state faces such grave charges. Our anguish is also wrapped in a unique and bitter disap- pointment in a figure who emerged 40 years ago as a living embodiment of a heroic Israel. American Jews lionized Benjamin Netanyahu, whom they first met through the tri- umph of Entebbe, which came with the sting of his brother Yoni’ s death. Through the 1980s, Netanyahu became one of the most recognizable Israeli figures for American Jewry, giving countless interviews and speeches that brought goose- bumps and a wellspring of pride to an entire generation. Although that uniform sense of awe and admiration has long since faded, and his leadership turned divisive, the starkness and severity of the attorney gen- eral’ s indictment will seem like a personal betrayal to anyone who felt Netanyahu’ s enchant- ments over the years. Because it comes at a time when a variety of forces — illiberalism, media platforms that undermine trans- parency and civil discourse, increasingly polarized politics that fuel nativism and extreme nationalism, to name a few — also seem to be bearing down on Israeli and Western demo- cratic institutions, there is all the more reason to worry. One bright spot in all of this is that Israel’ s legal institu- tions have been proved resil- ient, something Israelis and American Jews can be proud of. More broadly, Israel’ s core dem- ocratic institutions, although stressed, remain strong and robust. Democratic and liberal norms and practices — be they voter turnout, contestation, a free press or opposition politics — remain healthy. Although back-to-back elections have led to a political stalemate, much of this can be blamed on Scott Lasensky To make a donation to the DETROIT JEWISH NEWS FOUNDATION go to the website www.djnfoundation.org The Detroit Jewish News (USPS 275-520) is published every Thursday at 29200 Northwestern Highway, #110, Southfield, Michigan. Periodical postage paid at Southfield, Michigan, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: send changes to: Detroit Jewish News, 29200 Northwestern Hwy., #110, Southfield, MI 48034. 8 | DECEMBER 5 • 2019 1942 - 2019 Covering and Connecting Jewish Detroit Every Week jn Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his residence in Jerusalem. Netanyahu called the indictment allegations a “witch hunt.” GALI TIBBON / AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES Arthur M. Horwitz Executive Editor/Publisher ahorwitz@renmedia.us F. 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