The political crisis that has gripped Israel since the establishment of the extreme right-wing government in January 2023, and its failed attempt at a Judiciary coup, has deepened amid the Gaza war. Since the outbreak of the conflict, many branches of the protest movement have shifted their weekly demonstrations and redirected their efforts to establish ‘logistical centers’ to assist citizens who have been displaced or lost their jobs or workers, as well as those struggling to secure basic food and supplies at home. This significant nationwide effort stood in stark contrast to the government’s failure to provide the necessary services to citizens in distress.
Alongside extensive fieldwork, criticism towards Netanyahu’s extreme right-wing ministers has also intensified. It is noteworthy that many of the victims of the Hamas attack on October 7 in the southern part of the country—both the kidnapped and the deceased—were, for the most part, activists or affiliated with the protest movement. There is a broad consensus among supporters of the protest, and even beyond them, that Netanyahu is to blame for the disaster on October 7 and must be ousted from power as quickly as possible.
Some protest organizations and their leaders began organizing demonstrations in the last weeks of December, calling for early elections and the replacement of the prime minister. Others are of the opinion that it is necessary to wait for the right moment to generate a massive force that will force Netanyahu into new elections.
Against this background, the entry of protest lists, which include allies from left and independent groups, in the upcoming local elections is important. While protest organizations are not officially participating, key activists run on various lists throughout the country under the umbrella of the political arm of the protest, the “New Contract” organization. The participation of MAAN representatives in this broad democratic coalition is a continuation of our struggle for democracy and peace. Top of Form
