The break-in at the Religious Zionism headquarters: a sign of an escalating election campaign
We are at the beginning of a volatile election campaign, and there is no reason to believe it will subside. This morning, activists from the left-wing organization "Omdim Beyachad" ("Standing Together") broke into the election headquarters of the Religious Zionism party in Shoham. This incident highlights the blurred lines between protest and illegal intrusion, as well as the lack of consistent condemnation for such actions.
We are at the beginning of a volatile election campaign, and there is no reason to believe it will subside. On the contrary, it will only escalate. This is exactly how this morning began: activists from the left-wing organization "Omdim Beyachad" ("Standing Together") broke into the election headquarters of the Religious Zionism party in Shoham.
They acted with uncovered faces, without fear and without hesitation. Under the guise of freedom of speech and the right to protest, the line between legitimate dissent and breaking into a political headquarters was crossed. If anyone thinks this is an isolated event, it is worth recalling what happened just in January of this year, when left-wing protesters broke into the Likud headquarters.
What has happened since? Seven months have passed, and so far not a single indictment has been filed. The incident of trespassing has dropped off the agenda. When there is no significant response, it is not surprising to see the next event occur, and this time, it is met with silence.
None of the opposition leaders rushed to condemn the act. No one warned against crossing the line. No one said in a clear voice: this is not what democracy looks like. When they discuss political violence in the media, the finger is always pointed in only one direction — toward the right side of the map.
We are living in dangerous times. We have already seen protesters reaching the Prime Minister's home, we have seen violence against elected officials, and now break-ins into election headquarters are becoming just another passing event. When there is no enforcement, there is escalation. When there is no condemnation, there is legitimation.
When there is no price to pay, some feel it is permissible to go one step further.
Therefore, the next time you are told how violent and extreme the right is, remember that when left-wing activists break the law, the politicians, the law enforcement systems, and the pundits in the studios simply do not care.
