Princeton and the judicial coup attempt in Israel
Israel is undergoing a judicial coup these days. Similar to recent developments in Hungary, Poland, and Turkey, the coup aims to subject Israel’s Supreme Court to the executive branch, change the way judges are appointed, and prevent any meaningful review of government actions or Knesset (Israel’s parliament) laws. Leading the coup is the most right-wing government in Israel’s history. Headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently standing trial for fraud and accepting bribes, the current Israeli government includes ministers who call openly for the ethnic cleansing of Palestinian Arabs, refuse to condemn pogrom-like attacks on innocent civilians by Jewish settlers, and express racist and homophobic opinions proudly and on a regular basis. Funding this shocking attempt to consolidate power is, in one case, the Tikvah Fund, a wealthy and far-reaching group that also supports research and teaching at Princeton. Based on these actions, Princeton should cut its ties with the organization.