Social Justice Postponed

Social Justice Postponed

Michael Walzer: Social Justice Postponed

Less than a week ago, I read a poster attached to one of Tel Aviv?s tents; I saw it later taped to walls all over the city:

Mr. Prime Minister:
You are responsible for
Welfare,
Education, and
Health,
Not only for Security.

The protests in Israel were in part an effort to escape from the pervasive and all-consuming focus on security. In the long run, of course, there is no escape. The occupation and the settlements have a lot to do?not everything but a lot to do?with the decline of the welfare state and the growing inequalities of Israeli society. Still, there was an interesting possibility here: to come to justice on the other side of the Green Line by fighting for justice on this side. But that was only possible if there could be an escape, at least temporarily, from security issues.

The terror attack near Eilat and the rockets falling on Ashkelon and Beer Sheva have silenced the protests?literally. Two nights ago there was a silent march with candles from the tent city on Rothschild Boulevard to the sea, not a protest but a memorial for the people killed in the south. The protests will resume, and the chanting too?so the leaders say. But the way forward, never easy, will be much harder now.

Terrorism strengthens the Right. I suppose that isn?t a necessary truth, but it is certainly true in Israel. ?Everyone here knows very well,? a columnist wrote in Haaretz, ?how to behave when there is a terror attack.? You support the government?s retaliation?as Tzipi Livni, the leader of the opposition, immediately promised to do. Prime Minister Netanyahu will act cautiously in the next days because of the importance of sustaining decent relations with Egypt, but not because of any domestic constraints.

He is certainly more comfortable dealing with security than with welfare, education, or health?and he is more comfortable fighting Israel?s enemies than compromising with possible future friends. I believe that he has refused American and European help in dealing with the Palestinian bid for UN recognition because of his confidence that Palestinian violence would justify Israeli toughness. And it seems that there are Palestinians willing to cooperate?indeed, they have come forward sooner than expected. They will make it easier for Netanyahu to deal with the other Palestinians?and with his domestic critics too.

Social justice has been postponed. Whether this is only a postponement, or something more and worse, depends on the resiliency and stamina of the protest movement.

(Image: Yossi Gurvitz, Flickr cc)