I am impressed by the power of the people.
Example 1:
A few months back an agreement was reached between the government and the Women of the Wall and Reform representatives by which the egalitarian plaza would be enlarged and a new council formed for administering it. The deal was approved and the Haredi MKs in the government allowed it to go through even with their lip service of protest. After the deal was a fait accompli and publicized, the Haredi street and media got upset that the government made a deal with the Reform about this and gave them a foothold. Shortly after that the Haredi MKs suddenly started protesting the agreement (that they were a part of) and they fought against it, throwing the agreement back into limbo. It was clear that they were pressured by the "Haredi street" to not just let it slide through.
Example 2:
The new broadcasting authority has been the subject of much argument between different branches of the government. Finally they have all, seemingly, come to an agreement on its formation and it seems to be a done deal, as of a week ago. Suddenly some residents of Har Nof discover that the broadcasting authority purchased a building just outside of Har Nof in which to house the new complex.
The new Broadcasting authority is going to regularly desecrate the Shabbos at the edge of Har Nof. They do not like that and say it is going to threaten the character of the neighborhood and they went to the Haredi MKs to push them to fight it.
The Haredi MKs response was basically that they did not know, they will look into it, if it is true they will fight it and they will not allow this to happen.
Once again, the Haredi MKs were going to let it go through as part of whatever agreement they had agreed to in exchange for whatever votes they wanted supported by the government, but the Haredi street rose up and said no, and now the Haredi MKs have to pick up the gauntlet and fight it.
And no, I do not believe they did not know. The current broadcasting authority is mechalel shabbos, so without extracting a promise that the new authority won't be, they new it would be. The Ministers and MKs, especially Gafni and Deri, are surely aware of every detail of this hotly contested issue, and in no way do I beleieve that they did not know there would be chilul shabbos or that it would be located outside of Har Nof.
So,, my conclusion is that the people are far more powerful than previously thought. they are not just led, but they also set the tone when they want to.
------------------------------------------------------
Reach thousands of readers with your ad by advertising on Life in Israel
------------------------------------------------------