It is permissible to wonder about the possibility of raising the democratic question by examining the screed of the relations of religious domination which cross the Israeli society and which call into question the framework that establishes them.
According to several sources, ultra-Orthodox minister Arieh Deri asked his colleague from the public security Amir Ohana to allow access “to all who wish”.
The problem arises when the rights of conscience are opposed to the laws of the state and the question arises to know what are the limits to what is tolerable in democratic matters ? Hatred and ignorance of democracy are dysfunctional. They rule without control, they can be a step in the processes by which the fragile Israeli democracy
could die. Democracy is based on respect for the rule of law.
The tragedy perpetrated at the beginning of May 2021 in Meron rekindled the debates on the limits of the freedom of religious autonomy in a democracy.
The dilemma that hate speech raises for democratic regimes thus reappears again.
On the one hand, as expressive acts, they seem to enjoy the same protection as
most others, and any legal restriction can be interpreted as a form of censorship incompatible with the principle of democracy. But here, The state cannot tolerate them without being complicit in the propagation of the hostile and violent attitudes it encourages. These contrary considerations lead to different legal responses.
Hate undermines democracy, Israeli democracy. This is the implacable and worrying observation, which can be taken from this last drama. Everything indicates that public space is gradually being taken over by this affect. Hatred replaces little to little speech, because all hatred is hatred of language, and hatred language is still a hatred of democracy for those who claim the so-called “truth” of their particular faith which they exercise with intolerance? Their conduct is indefensible and is inadmissible in matters of Jewish faith deciding to follow his conscience, someone decides to act contrary to security and freedoms guaranteed by the State.
“To the extent that the legitimacy and policy of government derive from doctrine and
religious expertise, the Jewish conception of politics differs from democratic principles and contradicts them. “
FJN urges the authorities to ensure that the investigation is independent,
impartial and comprehensive, and that those responsible are accountable.
The catastrophe of Meron or the hatred of democracy
