Use ultra-Orthodox theology to save Israel
Tom Friedman wants Biden to intervene and save Israeli democracy. As an American, the notion of the Biden Administration intervening to save Israeli democracy may have initially struck me as a fool's errand. After all, our attempts at nation-building in places like Iraq have been nothing short of disastrous. But as an Israeli, I can attest to the fact that there is one tool in America's arsenal that could prove incredibly effective: ultra-Orthodox theology.
The biggest threat to democracy in Israel is the rapid growth of the ultra-Orthodox population, which has chosen to disconnect from the values of the Enlightenment. But, at the core of ultra-Orthodox theology are values that make it difficult for them to completely disconnect from the Western world. One of the key beliefs is that the Jewish people did not truly gain independence through the Zionist movement and still depend on the kindness of others. The ultra-Orthodox population in Israel today is not necessarily anti-Zionist. They are content with the fact that the Jewish people have returned to their land, but they do not fully embrace the idea that Zionism has successfully redeemed the Jews. Rabbi Shach, a late ultra-Orthodox leader, emphasized Israel's dependence on the United States as proof of Zionism's shortcomings.
This belief led Rabbi Shach to oppose the annexation of the Golan in 1981, as he saw it as an unnecessary provocation towards other nations. The prohibition to provoke nations as long as the nation of Israel is not fully redeemed by direct divine intervention is a fundamental aspect of ultra-Orthodox thinking. Even during the time of the Nazis, ultra-Orthodox rabbis were not supportive of a militant attitude towards the oppressors. Instead, they attempted to lobby the Nazi authorities, having a submissive willingness to accept exile and its terrible experiences as a decree from God placed upon the Jewish people.
The younger generation of ultra-Orthodox may not share the same beliefs as their elders, the sense of power that Zionism brought to the people of Israel has seeped into them and they may be less cautious. However, the ultra-Orthodox political parties are still controlled by older leaders who maintain a more cautious outlook. No one in Israel will be enthusiastic about a confrontation with the United States, but the ultra-Orthodox leadership, more than anyone else, will see it as absolute madness. In a way, the ultra-Orthodox even derive satisfaction from America's control of Israel, as it reinforces their theology of exile.
The ultra-Orthodox in Israel may not be heavily involved in foreign relations as long as the government is providing them with certain benefits. However, in the long-term, American pressure could serve as a check against the rise of nationalist and anti-democratic sentiment within this community. It's crucial for US ambassadors to maintain direct communication with ultra-Orthodox leaders, who will likely be receptive. While the ultra-Orthodox tend to hold right-wing views due to distrust of Arabs, they hold the US in high regard, seeing it as a "realm of grace."