In the last decade or so, India-Israel ties have only seen an upward trajectory. However, the internal political instability in Israel is a grave threat to the relationship between two like-minded progressive nations. As such, the recent verdict of Israel’s Supreme Court is likely to have a profound impact on both the relations, as well as the internal politics of the country, where the former PM, Benjamin Netanyahu is leaving no stone unturned to stage a remarkable comeback, and how the ruling party can use this verdict to their own advantage.
The Supreme Court of Israel delivered a landmark Judgment
Recently, two Palestinian citizens of Israel were convicted of carrying out attacks that took away the lives of innocent Israeli citizens. The convicted duo was served rigorous imprisonment. In order to set deterrence against such attacks in future, the ruling Israeli government decided to make a radical move. On 28th July, the top court of Israel ruled that the government can revoke the citizenship of ‘disloyal’ citizens. It found that the government can revoke citizenship of those people who carry out acts that constitute a ‘breach of trust’ against the country. It includes acts of terrorism, espionage or treason.
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This ruling of the top court invoked the 2008 Citizenship law in Israel, wherein this law gave the state complete authority to revoke citizenship based on actions of a person. As per the law, those actions that constitute a “breach of loyalty” will invite revocation of their Israeli citizenship. The court found this practice to be constitutional, even discarding the arguments that it will render the person stateless. The Justice acknowledged the argument and accepted that revoking citizenship challenged International law standards. The majority opinion of the court found out that this difficulty (stripping citizenship renders the person stateless) doesn’t make the entire practice as unconstitutional.
Now this is nothing less than a shot in the arm for the ruling Israeli government-led by Yair Lapid, which badly wants to quell the rising support for Benjamin Netanyahu-led Likud party.
Political impact of the Supreme Court Verdict
The frequent change of guard and the untimely cycle of elections has forced and preoccupied the small but powerful nation, Israel in its internal politics. Currently all the opposition parties have one common intention that is to keep out Former PM Benjamin Netanyahu out of power.
The battle hardened ex commando, whose hardcore nationalist image, vocal support for Jewish state and tough stance on Islamists resonate among the masses. This has forced other parties to join hands even beyond the ideological domain.
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Former PM Netanyahu has pushed his rival parties to the brink. He incessantly attacks the ruling government of going soft on demands of Jewish people and being sympathetic to the Islamists. That is why; this judgment was the dire need for the Lapid government which badly wanted to throw away these charges levelled by popular leader of the masses, Netanyahu.
All the coalition government knows that by cosying with the Islamists or going soft against them, they can get the support of Islamic or left wing parties. But the matter of fact is that none will risk this in Israel as this will be a sure shot political harakiri in Israel. Barring a few voters who cast their votes on communal lines to these Islamic and left wing parties, these parties have no takers in Israel. As such, support from such politically ostracised parties will only invite the wrath of the Israeli voters.
With this one judgment going in its favour, the ruling Yair Lapid government has somewhat blunt these charge of Likud party head and Former PM Benjamin Netanyahu. That is why it is the masterstroke of the ruling party to push all its might behind the law and rally behind revocation of Israeli citizenship of ‘disloyal’ citizen.
This has in a way avoided political instability in Israel which would be great news for India as a weak turbulent Israel is not in India’s interest. India-Israel has many plans for joint development and joint vision of progress and many prospects of the new world order.
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