An Israeli dictatorship?

It's always amazed me that despite spending much of the last 60 years at war, Israel has been one of the only countries, outside Western Europe, Australia and North America, to spend all that time as a reasonably liberal democracy.

So under what circumstances could Israel become a dictatorship, either military or single-party? I'm thinking something like a worse Six-Day War, where Israel don't strike first, driving them to desperate measures. Is there something essential about Israel preventing dictatorships? (The religious motive, perhaps?) How would an autocratic Israel be perceived by the world?
 

ninebucks

Banned
Hmm... a difficult one. Seeing as a decent slice of Israel's population has plural citizenship, if things get bad many Israelis can just leave. And Israel without its immigrants is nothing.

Perhaps if in 1948 there is a more liberal consensus when it comes to writing up the constitution. And Israel is declared a representative republic that is a Jewish homeland (and offers a very free Law of Return), but that gives the Arabs full and equal citizen rights and responsibilities (including service in the IDF).

This Republic of Israel is much more harmonious and much more socialistic, and, as a result gets along a lot better with its neighbours. Anti-zionism becomes a fringe position in the Arab world. Without the constant threat of war, Israel's Western aid package is considerably smaller, and thus, Israel is somewhat poorer.

Then, in the early 1980s, a militant pan-Arab ideology comes into power in Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Iraq, and the winds look like a United Arab Republic may be in the offing. A split begins to occur between the Jewish and Arab Israelis in regards to opinion of the pan-Arabism. Suspicion towards Arabs grows in Israel and the extremist Jewish Nationalists begin to grow in influence.

The United Arab Republic is declared in 1984. The following year, Jewish Nationalist parties are elected to the Knesset en masse. Segregationist policies are adopted by the new coalition government, civil strife begins to run rife through Israel, and relations with the new United Arab Republic deteriorate.

In 1987, Israeli intelligence receives word on a UAR nuclear research facility in Osirak. Resolving to not allow the UAR to develope nuclear weaponry, Israel launches a surprise aerial attack on Osirak, and the facility is destroyed. This results in a diplomatic crisis and it looks like there will be a war.

During this time, a coup is aborted by members of the Knesset's Arab bloc and civil rights activists. This leads the government to instigate a crack-down on anyone suspected of supporting the UAR. Riots burst out throughout Israel, and the UAR looks primed to take advantage of this. In light of this an Israeli general pulls off a coup and seeks to unite the (Jewish) country around his leadership.

He succeeds, the Knesset is dismissed (with only the few supportive members being kept on as 'the Special Civilian Advisory Council') and Israel becomes a dictatorship. The Arab-Israeli War begins, and it proves to be particularly prolonged. Israel opens up internment camps to hold Arab citizens that it views to be dangerous. Eventually, Israel wins the war, and the Nationalist dictatorship usurps the credit and utilises propaganda to remain in power, despite the fact the threat no longer remains.
 
16th October 2006.

A suicide bomber blows himself up during a session of the Knesset, the parliament. 42 representatives are killed, including the Prime minister. The country is in turmoil as its bastion of security has been breached. An investigation quickly concludes that the person who blew himself up was a respected member of parliament. Paranoia roams the hallways of the Israeli branches as backgrounds are being rechecked, to no avail.
Then Mossad intercepts a communication inside the Lebanese government suggesting Lebanon was at least aware of the attack. The conversation also speaks of “others” that have infiltrated Israel.
A leak to the press sparks a massive wave of demonstrations raging trough the country but there is no sign of action from the Israeli government. Mossad investigates as much members of the government as they possibly can and one enquiry even ends in a vast firefight near the home of a Knesset assistant. For Israel and the world this is the confirmation that the Israeli government has been penetrated.

On the 19th October 2006, 0400 hours IDF tanks and troops occupy major crossroads and roads in and around Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and other major or strategic cities.
Exactly at 1200 hours the newly appointed Ramatkal (Chief of the General Staff) Gabi Ashkenazideclares a state of emergency and announces that the government is no longer capable of leading the country as it may or may not be infiltrated by terrorist or foreign agents.The military will take care of the well being of the Israeli citizens during the crisis and until trustworthy elections can be held.
Reactions throughout Israel are mixed. Many people have trust in the IDF since they are such a familiar organisation, linked to many facets of Israeli daily life. Others are concerned about the loss of the democratic process and some are even voicing the possibility of a coup.
The reaction in the occupied territories is one of total mayhem. Riots sweep trough the streets and the Palestinian government requests international protection since they are now bordered by an uncontrollable military rule.
The United States s reserved in its reaction and it states that in this current crisis there are little options. Of course it will keep an eye into the evolution of the situation.
The United Nations voices its gravest concerns and asks if elections can be held as soon as possible and is backed in this statement by the Arab world, the EU, Russia and China.

Riots and turmoil increase in the occupied Palestinian territories and the military moves in with little restraint to “pacify the situation”. The Palestinian government again asks for international protection.

On the 22nd October IDF troops position themselves near the Lebanese border and bombers carry out air raids on strategic Lebanese military installations, making no separation between Hezbollah and other targets.
Ashkenazi declares that this is a first step to force them Lebanese government to disclose all the agents within the state of Israel and force Lebanon to seize all covert operations. Lebanon points out that they question the proof of their involvement presented by the IDF but will try to help Israel. Preferably without their arm being twisted. At the same time industrial targets are being attacked.
The Arab world reacts in outrage when civilians in Beirut are being bombed. The UN asks for restraint.

The next day Israel issues an ultimatum asking for that the Lebanese government disbands and that new UN controlled elections are being held, after each candidate has been screened as Mossad beliefs the Lebanese government is a victim of terrorist infiltration (even further than the usual Hezbollah compliment of ministers) just like Israel. Israel also asks that UNIFIL leaves the country as it is no longer needed.
Lebanon says that this is absurd and paranoid and that it won’t buckle under unreasonable demands, especially not at gunpoint.
Igmad Mughniyeh, commander of Hezbollah armed wing, says”…that Lebanon needs no lessons in democracy from a Junta.”
The same day Hezbollah supporters fire rockets into Israeli. This is the moment at which IDF troops cross the border.
Ashkenazi says that this time they won’t stop at the Litani river.
A few hours in the offensive a road block set up by UNIFIL is shot at by an IDF Apache, several casualties are being reported. Then Israeli fighters are fired upon by French anti-air weapons. IDF forces make no distinction between Hezbollah, UNIFIL or Lebanese forces.



From:
https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=59053
 
Well, a good chance would be Begin going the usual way of radical minorities, rather then democracy.
The Etzel are a Jewish anti-governmental terrorist organization, in alliance with Orthodox Jewish terrorists as-well.
Together they overthrow the Mapainics, and so begins Begin's reign of terror.
 
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