-Analysis-
PARIS – The two countries are different, as are their political systems, and the immediate causes of public outrage aren’t the same. Yet both Israel and Turkey have been gripped by mass protests in recent days against their respective governments. The driving force behind them is the same: to condemn and resist a shift that some call “illiberal” and others outright autocratic.
The shadow of Donald Trump looms large, granting these leaders the freedom to bend the rules as they see fit.
Both countries took another step down this path on Sunday. In Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s main rival, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, was imprisoned after being charged with corruption and collusion with a terrorist group. In recent days, hundreds of protesters have been arrested.
For the latest news & views from every corner of the world, Worldcrunch Today is the only truly international newsletter. Sign up here.
In Israel, the government passed a no-confidence motion against Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, marking the first step toward her removal — a move opposed by all former prosecutors, nearly every past justice minister, and almost all former presidents of Israel’s Supreme Court.
In both cases, there is a clear assault on checks and balances — a hallmark move of so-called “illiberal” leaders, a term initially used to describe the populist governments of Hungary and Poland, but which has since taken on a global dimension.
Attacking the system
In Turkey, the mayor of Istanbul was on the verge of being named the opposition’s candidate for the 2028 presidential election. (Mayor Imamoglu was formally elected as his party’s presidential candidate Monday) While Erdogan is theoretically barred from running again, few observers believe he is willing to relinquish power.
In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right coalition have been trying for more than two years to weaken checks and balances. Massive protests erupted in the first half of 2023, only to be overshadowed by the October 7 massacre, which drastically altered the political landscape.
Checks and balances that are the strength of American democracy.
Despite the ongoing war in Gaza and the deadlock over the remaining hostages held by Hamas, recent demonstrations bear a striking resemblance to those of early 2023.
The American factor
In both Turkey and Israel, the political leadership pushes forward despite massive public opposition, risking extreme polarization within the country.
The “illiberal” drift is also what some Americans have been accusing Trump of since his return to the White House two months ago. He, too, is attempting to bypass the checks and balances that are the strength of American democracy.
The example set by the U.S. president emboldens authoritarian leaders around the world, giving them a sense of empowerment. Erdogan in Turkey didn’t need Trump to give voice to his authoritarian inclinations, but this time, he is pushing even further.
Netanyahu knows nothing can stand in the way of his vision as long as the United States supports him
The same goes for Netanyahu in Israel, who knows that nothing can stand in the way of his vision as long as the United States supports him — certainly not the modest criticisms coming from Europe.
These authoritarian pushes and the protests they spark are one of the defining features of this era of rupture, which sees liberal democracy retreating across the globe. These are not distant events; it’s a global trend, moving closer to us all with each passing day.
