Opinion Piece Says U.S., Israeli Democracies May Be Beyond Repair After 59-Year Occupation
Updated
Updated · Haaretz · Jun 26
Opinion Piece Says U.S., Israeli Democracies May Be Beyond Repair After 59-Year Occupation
2 articles · Updated · Haaretz · Jun 26
Summary
A new opinion essay argues the United States and Israel are both sliding so far from liberal democracy that recovery may already be out of reach.
Israel is presented as the closest mirror to the U.S., with the piece tracing that parallel back to 1967 and Washington's tacit support for the Six-Day War.
The essay says U.S. refusal to enforce UN Resolution 242 helped entrench an occupation now 59 years old, making it a central example of democratic erosion.
Even if voters reject would-be autocrats this fall, the author argues, fragmented opposition forces in both countries leave no clear path to democratic repair.
Can a new political alliance save Israel's democracy from its government's push for a 'Greater Israel'?
With Israel defying a new US-Iran deal, is a wider regional conflict now inevitable?
A 1967 memo called settlements illegal. Why has this 59-year 'cancer' on Israeli democracy been allowed to grow?
Liberal Democracy at a Historic Low: The 2026 Crisis in the U.S. and Israel—Backsliding, Authoritarianism, and the Future of the Alliance
Overview
As of June 2026, liberal democracies are facing unprecedented strain, with only 18 countries democratizing—a historic low. Freedom of expression has seen the sharpest global decline, often targeted by autocratizing leaders, while core democratic principles like the rule of law and checks and balances are deteriorating in many nations. The United States is not immune, experiencing reductions in civil rights protections and weakened legislative oversight, especially under a Republican-controlled Congress. These trends highlight a global pattern where the very foundations of democracy are eroding, signaling a critical juncture that demands urgent attention to safeguard democratic health.