Israeli protesters: ‘Traitors’ and ‘anarchists’ or best and brightest?
In years past, Israel’s long-serving prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, publicly took great pride in his country’s growing global stature, ascribing it to two main pillars: military power, as embodied in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and the technological innovation that gave the country a cherished nickname, “Startup Nation.”
Yet just over two months into his sixth term in office, Mr. Netanyahu faces a widespread revolt from precisely those segments of Israeli society.
Elite combat veterans and high-tech workers have become pivotal, and highly visible, members of the pro-democracy movement protesting against his government’s controversial plan to “reform” the country’s judicial system and undermine any check on executive power.
IDF reservists and the technology sector, widely regarded as among the best and brightest Israeli society has to offer, are not reflexive protesters. For many this is their first time signing
