Noa Landau: 75 YEARS OF ISRAEL/75 YEARS OF NAKBA

Alexandra Föderl-Schmid in conversation with Noa Landau
75 YEARS OF ISRAEL / 75 YEARS OF NAKBA


In Israel a far-right-wing coalition government has emerged after
the last election. The policies it seeks to implement conflict
with constitutional principles. Its aim is to strengthen the
executive power and weaken the courts and their liberal
tendencies. In response, the civilian population has mobilized,
and since then large protests have taken place to fight the
changes in the judiciary. These protests have overshadowed the
state of Israel’s 75th anniversary.


The protesters include a broad civil society consisting not only
of progressive, politically active people but also of people who
consider themselves liberal or centrist without usually being
very political. Noa Landau describes this as a political
awakening, with the common goal of stopping the government’s
restructuring of the judiciary. The question is how the current
emergence of political activism will be translated into the
future political sphere.


Which path Israel will take is difficult to say. However, the
current events draw a decisive line. Israel can move towards a
nationalist, illiberal state or it can turn away from these
tendencies and preserve liberal democracy. Regarding the
two-states solution, Noa Landau highlights in her talk with
Alexandra Föderl-Schmid,,the importance of a liberal, democratic
state of Israel as a basis for its implementation. It is also
important to remember that democracy in Palestine is not possible
as long as it is occupied by Israel.


Noa Landau, deputy chief editor, HAARETZ


Alexandra Föderl-Schmid, deputy chief editor
SÜDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG