How progressives betrayed a struggling liberal democracy

Historian and philosopher Fania Oz-Salzberger on the political turmoil in Israel

When I ask the Israeli historian and writer Fania Oz-Salzberger how she is doing, she tells me that any Israeli answering that question today is forced to separate personal life from political turmoil. As a country, Israel is still reeling from the trauma of 7 October, the agony about the 59 hostages who remain in captivity in the Hamas tunnel network, and the brutal war being fought in Gaza. Many Israelis, including Oz-Salzberger, are also deeply concerned about what they see as the coup d’état of prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been trying to disarm the judiciary and undermine Israeli democracy since long before 7 October.

Progressive activism runs in Oz-Salzberger’s family. Her father, the celebrated novelist Amos Oz, was a staunch advocate for peace and a supporter of the two-state solution, while one of her sons is the founder and leader of the students’ movement that is leading the street protests against the government. Oz-Salzberger herself was born in kibbutz Hulda in central Israel, as the eldest daughter of Amos and his wife Nily. The next generation is already on its way since Fania Oz-Salzberger has recently become a grandmother. So yes, on a personal level, she is doing great. But she can’t help but worry about the world her grandchild has been born into.

Oz-Salzberger is relentless in her fight against illiberal forces from all sides. She’s just as critical of anti-Zionist leftists abroad who advocate for boycotting Israeli academia as she is of Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right cronies. As Israelis have been saying since 7 October: “No substance in the universe is as tough as a kibbutznik grandmother.” Although she has officially retired from the University of Haifa, she still teaches a major course in political philosophy to both Jewish and Arab students.

Israel is going through a dire political moment right now. You posted on X this week that the country has entered a “worst case scenario.” What has changed for the worse over the past couple of days and weeks?

Fania Oz-Salzberger: The drama is coming to a head. We are approaching the constitutional clash that we have been anticipating ever since Netanyahu was re-elected over two years ago. What we have here is a combination of hyper-nationalism, corruption, and a government determined to take over Israeli democracy. Netanyahu is following the Viktor Orbán and Donald Trump protocol. It would’ve been less horrifying if there hadn’t been a war in Gaza—but even before 7 October, you could see the takeover of the West Bank by the most extreme and violent settlers and the expansion of the settlements. Of course, the war has made the situation far worse.

[Read the rest of my interview at Quillette or get a paid subscription here]