The extent to which Israel is ruled by unelected “deep state” officials is difficult to convey to outsiders. It sounds too fantastic. So fantastic in fact, that it may be best described as “legal surrealism.”
Our rulers sound like they speak the language of politics and law, but much of what they say makes no sense at all. Consider the case of Benjamin Netanyahu’s testimony in his own trial.
Though Israel is in a state of war on several fronts, the judges presiding in that trial are forcing him to testify three days a week, every week, because, they have argued, it is “in the public interest” to bring the trial to a speedy conclusion. So, determining the exact number of cigars that Mr. Netanyahu received as gifts from friends has come to take precedence over his running of the war.
Amid the upheaval of the current war and the urgent hostage crisis we thought it important to remember that judicial reforms in Israel are crucial. Once the war broke out after October 7, judicial reforms fell by the wayside. We pray the process gets back on track very soon.
Source:
A deep state doesn’t get any deeper than this, by Gadi Taub/JNS, February 27, 2025