{"id":749,"date":"2025-01-02T18:14:34","date_gmt":"2025-01-02T18:14:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thanassiscambanis.com\/sipa\/?p=749"},"modified":"2025-01-02T18:14:34","modified_gmt":"2025-01-02T18:14:34","slug":"the-day-democracy-stood-still-one-israeli-womans-fight-against-netanyahus-judicial-coup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/thanassiscambanis.com\/sipa\/2025\/01\/the-day-democracy-stood-still-one-israeli-womans-fight-against-netanyahus-judicial-coup\/","title":{"rendered":"The Day Democracy Stood Still: One Israeli Woman\u2019s Fight Against Netanyahu\u2019s \u201cJudicial Coup\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Eden Cohen, an Israeli graduate student at Columbia University, participated in one of the large protests during the Israeli \u201cJudicial Coup\u201d of 2023. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Eden, on the far left, and her friends, wearing hats that say \u201cdemocracy\u201d on the day of the protest, July 2023. Picture taken by Eden Cohen.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Sarah Mathew <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Until the summer of 2023, Eden Cohen had not considered herself an activist. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s power grab against her country\u2019s judiciary changed everything for Eden, a former IDF soldier, flight-attendant, and now Columbia University graduate student.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople felt that it’s the beginning of the end of Israeli democracy,\u201d she said, looking dismayed as she remembered the fateful July day during the summer of 2023. For Eden, the day of the reforms meant the backsliding of Israeli democracy. \u201cI have not always been involved in activism, but when this problem arose, I knew I could not be silent,\u201d Eden said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eden and two of her friends got in a car in Tel Aviv that fateful July afternoon, and drove the hour across central Israel to Jerusalem. \u201cWe wanted to be in the heart of the action.\u201d Eden said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The judicial reform protest, or as Eden and many critical Israelis call it, \u201cthe judicial coup,\u201d happened outside the Knesset on the day the government was set to pass the proposal. Prime Minister Netanyahu\u2019s \u201creform\u201d removed one of the few checks and balances on the Israeli executive branch, barring judges from interfering in government decisions on grounds of unreasonableness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the drive to Jerusalem, Eden and her friends felt a mixture of emotions. They were concerned for the future of their country\u2019s democracy, and they were anticipating the rush of adrenaline that comes when you fight for a shared cause.\u201cWe don\u2019t support the far-right Netanyahu government, but we were shocked that he was even proposing such a preposterous decision,\u201d said Eden. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cWe rolled the windows down and listened to very Israeli songs the whole way,\u201d Eden said. We were very patriotic. The music fired us up and gave us motivation to protest,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne song I remember in particular is called \u2018Shalom Chaverim,\u2019 which means \u2018Goodbye, friend.\u2019 This is what President Clinton said at Former Prime Minister Yitzak Rabin\u2019s funeral after he had been assassinated,\u201d Eden said. Rabin, an Israeli leader who advocated for peace with the Palestinians and stood for democracy and human rights, ultimately lost his life because of his peace efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen we got to Jerusalem, we walked a ways because we parked far away from the Knesset. We walked until we joined up with other protestors, making our way to the gates outside the Knesset,\u201d said Eden. The July afternoon was hot and energy filled the air. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhile we were walking, people from the far-right surrounded us, and began shouting angrily at us. They said that we are crazy, and that we are protesting because we are bored,\u201d Eden said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The protest outside of the Knesset, July 2023. Picture taken by Eden Cohen. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After pushing their way through the crowds of angry right-wing activists, Eden and her friends stood outside the towering gates of the Knesset. White and blue flags, the Star of David shining brightly, in the middle of thousands of determined, like-minded people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among the other slogans about democracy, the protestors held their heads high and chanted, \u201c\u2018bucha, bucha,\u2019 which means, \u2018shame, shame,\u2019 as loud as we could,\u201d Eden said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the protests were happening outside the walls, the Knesset was voting on the inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere were TV screens along the walls, and as we chanted, we watched the Members of Knesset pass the first part of the \u2018reforms,\u2019\u201d said Eden. The crowds could not believe what they were watching. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople took it very hard,\u201d said Eden. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Eden, her friends, and thousands of other Israelis stood unified in their opposition, they continued to watch the screens in shock and disgust as the government voted to limit the Judiciary\u2019s power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll we wanted was for the government to not pass the measures. The goal was to go back to maintaining the status quo, meaning the Supreme Court would maintain their power without interference from the government,\u201d Eden said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was a platform in the middle of the crowd, and a musician began to sing as a ceremony began. Tal Ramon, a famous Israeli singer, belted out the national anthem. \u201cThe title of our national anthem means \u2018the hope,\u2019\u201d Eden said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In central Israel and  Tel Aviv, similar protests were happening. Thousands of people came out to show their anger with the Netanyahu government. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think the whole reason for the \u2018reforms\u2019 was for Bibi to avoid going to trial. He doesn\u2019t want to go to jail,\u201d said Eden. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though the protests stopped after October 7th, the war has not stopped the politicians. \u201cThey still try to promote their agendas under the radar. But the problem for them is that after the war, people will fight for Bibi to resign. People will protest for that,\u201d said Eden. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though she is currently pursuing a Master\u2019s of International Affairs at Columbia University, which is where we met, Eden reads the news and keeps in touch with her loved ones about the current situation on the ground in Israel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the last month, Prime Minister Netanyahu fired Yolav Gallant, his Minister of Defense. \u201cI read an article from last week that said after Gallant got fired, a lot of people went to the streets as well,\u201d Eden said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think now, as long as Bibi is in charge, and we’re not getting our hostages back, it’s still very important to go out to protest often. And I have a friend that goes every weekend,\u201d said Eden. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Peace Wall\u201d on the Israel and Gaza border. Picture taken by Sarah Mathew. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the coast to Jerusalem, people across Israel are showing their desire for change. Eden said, \u201cI think people should fight for what they think and for what they believe, in a respectful and non-violent way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the protests, and then the ongoing war, the Israeli left-wing has been gravely upset with their government. Though Israel\u2019s democratic values have been tested, citizens have hope that their democracy will one day be strong again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy biggest dream for Israel,\u201d Eden said, \u201cis for Bibi to resign. We will get a new prime minister who leads the country towards lasting peace. Now, more than ever, we need peace.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Eden Cohen, an Israeli graduate student at Columbia University, participated in one of the large protests during the Israeli \u201cJudicial Coup\u201d of 2023.  Eden, on the far left, and her friends, wearing hats that say \u201cdemocracy\u201d on the day of…<\/p>\n

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