LFI director signs open letter opposing judicial reforms

LFI director Michael Rubin has today joined more than 100 UK Jewish community figures in signing an open letter to the Israeli government pledging their support to pro-democracy protesters opposing ministers’ power grab at the expense of Israel’s judiciary.

The letter, addressed to ministers in the Israeli government, expresses “deep concern for the future of Israel’s democracy”, adding that the signatories “believe it is our duty to speak out when we witness threats to the values and institutions that form the bedrock of the Jewish nation”.

The signatories cite “the need to safeguard Israel’s democratic principles and maintain a system of checks and balances,” adding that the new laws “have raised grave concerns among many Israelis, and among Israel’s friends around the world, including us”.

Signatories include the most senior rabbis from Reform, Masorti, and Liberal synagogues around the UK as well as the heads of several major Jewish youth movements, the Union of Jewish Students, and big UK-Israel organisations such as UJIA.

Initiated by Defend Israeli Democracy UK, the letter echoes a similar initiative in the United States and appeared to reflect the growing unease of British rabbis with the direction of Israeli politics.

Read the full text of the letter and signatories below:

To the Honorable Members of the Israeli Government,

We, the undersigned Clergy and Jewish community leaders, write to you today to express our deep concern for the future of Israel’s democracy. As spiritual and community leaders of the British Jewish community, we believe it is our duty to speak out when we witness threats to the values and institutions that form the bedrock of the Jewish nation. 

Our intention is not to align ourselves with any political party or agenda. Rather, we seek to address a matter of vital importance that transcends partisanship – the need to safeguard Israel’s democratic principles and maintain a system of checks and balances.*

Recent proposals for judicial reform have raised grave concerns among many Israelis, and among Israel’s friends around the world, including us. While we acknowledge the government’s prerogative to propose ways to improve the judicial system, we urge extreme caution in undertaking any changes that might compromise the delicate balance of power and erode the foundations of Israels’ democracy.

Our history has taught us the dangers of tyranny, oppression, and the erosion of democratic norms. As Jews, we carry the collective memory of countless struggles for freedom and justice. We have seen the devastating consequences of societies divided and polarized, where voices are silenced and dissent is stifled. We must not allow this to happen to our beloved Israel. 

We stand united in our support for Israel’s democracy, irrespective of our physical location. We recognise the responsibility we share as Jewish leaders to advocate for the preservation of democratic principles in the land that holds such profound significance for our people. It is in this spirit that we implore you to reconsider the proposed judicial reform. We recognize that improvements can be made to any system, and we encourage constructive dialogue and debate to address concerns and find solutions. However, it is crucial that any reforms be carried out with the utmost respect for democratic principles and the preservation of the separation of powers. 

We firmly believe that a united Israel, founded upon democratic values, is the best hope for its future. As you know, a democracy is judged not only on the principles of majority rule, but also on the principle that the fundamental rights of the minorities are respected and protected.

Our diversity is our strength and it is through democratic means that we can ensure the fair and just representation of all Israelis, foster unity and solidarity, and make a home for the diversity of the Jewish people worldwide. 

We ask you, the representatives of the Israeli people, to find common ground and protect the democratic foundations that our forebears fought so hard to establish.

Together, we can strive for a better future – a future where Israel continues to be a beacon of democracy, justice, and equality. Let us ensure that future generations inherit a nation that upholds the principles upon which it was founded – a just and democratic state with checks and balances, and a source of pride for the Jewish people worldwide. 

With hope for unity and democracy,