A very virulent message, a true thunderbolt in Israeli public debate. Tzipi Livni—former Deputy Prime Minister, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Justice (one of the most influential figures in Israeli politics over the last twenty years), former Member of Knesset, and former Mossad agent—published a message on X that has already surpassed one million views and is sparking intense discussion.
The accusation, formulated in Hebrew against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is extremely harsh:
"A sovereign state possesses territory, a law for all, and a monopoly on weapons. Israel has no recognized borders; there is no longer a single law or justice for all, but rather a system of religious law and justice parallel to state law, and armed and violent militias triggering riots at their whim. The Israeli government is disintegrating the State of Israel."
Tzipi Livni and her explosive accusation
Tzipi Livni is a prominent figure on the Israeli political scene. Born in 1958, the former Mossad agent held nine ministerial positions, served as chief negotiator during peace talks with the Palestinians, and narrowly failed to become Prime Minister in 2009. She began her career within Likud, Netanyahu's party, before moving toward centrist positions, leading the Kadima and Hatnua parties, and eventually withdrawing from political life. It was Netanyahu himself who removed her from power in 2014 due to her internal criticisms.
Today, although she no longer sits in Parliament, she remains a respected voice on the international stage for her experience and moderate approach. This stance comes at a delicate moment for Israel, which is engaged in an existential war on multiple fronts, notably against the Islamic Republic of Iran—a situation that is not unfolding as favorably as hoped for the Tel Aviv-Washington coalition.
In a country where Benjamin Netanyahu's government is supported by a right-wing and ultra-religious coalition, and where the dominant discourse since October 7 has been one of "national unity" against external enemies, Livni's words resonate like a bomb. This is not an ordinary left-wing critique: it comes from a woman who served the state for decades, who negotiated with the Palestinians, and who understands the inner workings of power. The message is clear: this is not a simple political disagreement, but an orchestrated institutional disintegration by "Bibi," a bellicose president who risks leading Israel to self-destruction.
The justice crisis and Trump's pressures
The judicial system, in particular, is extremely sensitive and problematic. A fragile pillar of an already besieged democracy, it is undergoing an unprecedented crisis under the direct threat of Benjamin Netanyahu. As
Haaretz highlights in an analysis, five years after his indictment and in the midst of trial, Netanyahu has sought a presidential pardon. A few months earlier, during a speech to the Knesset last October, Donald Trump ironically remarked: "Mr. President, why don't you grant him a pardon?" What began as a suggestion in jest quickly transformed into a real request, then degenerated into virulent personal attacks against Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who was accused by Trump of not immediately granting the pardon.
Normally, the Minister of Justice would have forwarded their opinion to the presidency. But Yariv Levin, the minister in charge of the matter, is so close to the Prime Minister that he abstained from the vote—not out of fear of a conflict of interest, but rather out of fear that his signature would make the recommendation too vulnerable to legal challenges, as
Haaretz reports. In a grotesque maneuver, his ideological double was appointed in his place: the Minister of Heritage, Amichai Eliyahu, a member of the white supremacist party
Otzma Yehudit and a notorious religious fanatic. The least surprising revelation soon followed: Eliyahu recommended granting the pardon.
"The justifications contained in his 17-page document," writes
Haaretz, "offer one of the most shocking glimpses into current Israeli political culture: a mafia theocracy, based on divine will, arbitrary decrees, and a multitude of legal systems designed for those who claim the right to choose and seek to annihilate the rights and protections guaranteed by law to all." A very dangerous fanatic drift that some in Israel have the courage to denounce.