LISTEN TO AUDIO RECORDING OF THIS EVENT HERE

The fight for Israel's soul: liberal democracy or Jewish ethnonationalism

   Quo Vadis Israel?
 Sunday, October 1st, at 9:30 am – Zoom only 

 Admiral Ami Ayalon (Retired), former head Israel Security Service (Shin Bet) and former Commander-in-Chief Israel Navy

The presentation will focus on Israel's imminent constitutional crisis brought by the Judicial overhaul that threatens the foundations of Israel's liberal democracy with an authoritarian-tyrannical theocracy. Building on the arguments Adm. Ayalon makes in his 2020 book, "Friendly Fire” we will trace the roots of Israel's Judiciary and democracy back to the State’s foundation in 1948. Adm. Ayalon will argue that dealing with this existential crisis will require a return to the fundamental questions which preoccupied the Zionist movement from its onset.

 Since Israel lacks a constitution, the relationship between Judaism and democracy and the role of Judaism in public life require clarification, as does the relationship between Israel and Diaspora Jewry.  Thus, the protest movement's rallying cry is the separation of religion from politics, and guaranteeing the rights of all citizens, regardless of religion or race.

Admiral (Retired) Ami Ayalon a Navy Commando SEAL, a Medal of Valor recipient, Israel's highest military decoration, for his role during the War of Attrition ‘Green Island raid’, former commander of the Navy commandos Shayetet 13, commander-in-chief Israel Navy, former head of Israel General Security Service, Shin Bet (counter intelligence agency) cabinet minister, and former Labor Party Knesset member. Together with Palestinian Sari Nusseibeh, he established the People's Voice peace initiative in 2002. He is a member of Commanders for Israel's Security, chairman of the Executive Committee of the Haifa University Research Center for Maritime & Strategy. He organized and was featured in the 2012 Academy Award-nominated documentary, The Gatekeepers, (available on Vudu, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV )

 Admiral (Retired) Ami Ayalon is the author of  “Friendly fire: how Israel became its own worst enemy and the hope for its future’, September 2020, “..not simply a critique, but a strong mandate for a complete overhaul of Israel’s policy toward countering Palestinian terrorism—with clear lessons for counterterrorism policy far beyond the region. . .  a powerful critique of the Israeli politicians on both the left and right. . .  a story of immense bravery: bravery to speak truth to power; bravery to speak out against injustice—even when it is committed on one’s behalf and in one’s name; bravery to acknowledge one’s own participation in and responsibility for such injustice; and, finally, bravery to demand accountability from oneself and from others." — Molly Ellenberg, Modern War Institute, West Point, NY, 2020 

UnXeptable is a grassroots nonpartisan movement launched by a group of Israelis residing in the San Francisco - Bay Area in support of a democratic Israel, with over 60 chapters worldwide. Donation to the US Israeli protest movement can be made online at UnXeptable (America-Israel Democracy Coalition’ formerly known as IsraelisVote).