Upward Plus: Washington's Pressure & Jerusalem's Time To Choose
Israel’s liberal elites attempt to transform the country into an American vassal.
Editorial Team
May 19, 2023
Washington and global liberalism collide with an inevitably right-wing Israel
Israel’s liberal elites attempt to transform the country into America’s vassal in a bid for power.
Last week, the European Union canceled a high-profile event because Israel’s right-wing national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, was planning to attend. The presence of the democratically elected representative was too much for a German Ambassador, who said “I wish this hadn’t been necessary — but it was.”
This pushback isn’t new. Late last year, the Biden Administration held a sensitive meeting on how to deal with Israel’s new far-right coalition and were concerned that Ben Gvir’s values were too alien for America’s liberal order. This year, Washington used its influence through diplomats, funding, and its executive powers to foment chaos in Israel and spark an uprising against Netanyahu’s right-wing administration. The Obama administration also attempted to oust the Netanyahu administration years ago by funding political opposition.
Israel is changing
The liberal and secular faction of Israel is losing the demographic game to a fast-growing population of religious people. Despite a few hiccups due to backlash against recent reform efforts, their rise to political power is inevitable. However, they not only have to overcome resistance from Israel’s liberals — including powerful protests — but also the pressure from the global liberal order led by America.
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