Israel facing enemies inside and outside

 By Rabbi Dow Marmur

JERUSALEM–Israel needs protection that may go beyond its own considerable military power. Iran and its stooges (Hamas and Hezbollah), the new allegedly strategic alliance between Syria and Lebanon, and the openly unfriendly (perhaps even hostile) attitude of some members of the European Union are three of the many dangers from without.

Perhaps that’s what President Peres had in mind when he asked President Obama in Copenhagen the other day to continue to pursue peace. Obama’s popularity in Israel may have gone down of late, but Peres knows that only American initiatives can help resolve the international menaces that threaten Israel.

At the same time it may be legitimate to speculate that the threats from without may help promote cohesiveness within Israel encouraging the government in power to exploit the situation by slogans that urge unity and solidarity. Israel’s internal problems may, in the last resort, be an even greater threat. There’s reason to hope that Obama will help to save Israel; it’s not always clear that Israelis know have to save themselves from themselves and from each other. Here are two current examples.

1. The influence of orthodox-nationalist rabbis on the soldiers they teach. The decision by Defense Minister Ehud Barak to stop the funding of a Hesder Yeshiva (one of several dozen institutions in Israel that combine holy study with military service) has prompted some of the advocates of the militant rabbis to argue that obedience to the law of God must come before obedience to military orders. It smacks of incitement to mutiny and, by implication, threatens the state with a potential military take-over. It’s also reminiscent of tendencies in many Muslim countries: the talibanization of Israel.

Though disobedience of evil orders is, indeed, a virtue, to say that clearing illegal outposts and implementing government undertakings to stop settlement expansion belong to this category is preposterous. It’s scandalous to assert that by quoting Halakhah (Jewish law) to suit their claims these rabbis have the franchise on God’s will.

2. Statements by two cabinet ministers that question the conduct of Israel’s Supreme Court. First it was none other than the Minister of Justice who expressed the hope that religious law would prevail in the Jewish state. He then softened the statement, but the feeling that this Orthodox Jew may wish to confine Israeli jurisprudence to Torah law has remained. It’s another reminder of Muslim fundamentalists who are championing shariah law in their countries. The (unconscious?) desire to imitate foes is frightening.

Then it was the Minister of Finance who sharply criticized the Supreme Court for rendering decisions that cost the country a lot of money. He’s known for wanting to curb the power of the Court and this was his latest opportunity to have a go.

Israel’s Supreme Court has been a constant champion of the rights of individuals and of Israeli democracy since the inception of the state. It serves as a wholesome counterweight to political excesses. To wish to clip its wings has dangerous implications.

Both instances cited constitute a threat to a democratic Israel and play into the hands of those who argue that Judaism and democracy don’t go together. If they get their way it’ll spell the end of the Zionist dream and be much more devastating than any threat that can come from Iran, Syria, the EU or anywhere else outside.

And Obama cannot save Israel from its internal challenges. We pray Israelis will.
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Rabbi Marmur is spiritual leader emeritus of Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto, Canada. He now divides his time between Canada and Israel