The headline, a quote from Shakespear’s Hamlet, implies disbelief in the sincerity of an overly raucous protester. Such is the case for the proliferation of protests currently marring Israeli society, David Weinberg is right to condemn protesters, who have no respect for the rights of other citizens to live their lives normally; one wonders if their protests are genuinely about the cause they claim to be protesting for, or more likely, an attempt to bring down our democratically elected government by non-democratic means. In another article Greer Fay Cashman admits that the hostage families have crossed red lines, but claims that few would blame them. Count me as one, amongst many, who blames them. Not only do they have no respect for other people but their unruly protests are music to Hamas ears. The louder they protest, the less likely is Hamas to agree to any deal that Israel could possibly accept. I have even less sympathy for Haredi protesters who should know that there is no halachic dispensation for excluding Torah scholars from physically fighting to protect the Jewish state; especially in an existential war such as the war against Hamas.
In general, any Israeli citizen has the right to express his opinion by protesting, but not to harass others who may or may not agree with them; nor to block highways; nor to interfere with public transport. Nor, in a democracy, may any group defy the law however righteous their case may be. Those who disagree with the government’s policy can vote against it at the next election. Creating chaos is not an option.
stephenscohen.com 