Riots at Sohlberg’s home not surprising, nor isolated - editorial

Disturbing images emerged from protests outside the home of Deputy Supreme Court President Noam Sohlberg, sparked by recent High Court rulings on haredi (ultra-Orthodox) military service. While condemned, these scenes were not unexpected, highlighting a growing problem within Israeli society: the normalization of selective obedience. This trend sees individuals and groups choosing to adhere to laws only when they align with their own beliefs, interests, or sense of justice.

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The moment every sector claims the right to determine which laws are binding and which are optional, citizenship becomes tribal membership, and the state becomes a collection of competing exceptions.

The phenomenon is not limited to one sector, though the specifics and grievances differ. Whether it's blocking highways, establishing unauthorized outposts, ultra-Orthodox protesters defying draft orders, or criminal organizations showing contempt for state authority, the underlying message remains consistent: the law is only legitimate if it serves one's cause. Politicians have often exacerbated this by condemning lawbreaking from opposing sides while excusing it when it benefits their own political interests.

Each act of defiance is presented with its own justification, each group claiming unique circumstances. However, the erosion of a nation does not typically stem from a single exception but from exceptions becoming ingrained habits. The danger lies not just in the violations themselves but in the culture they foster. A democratic state fundamentally depends on a shared understanding that disputes are resolved through established institutions, not through raw pressure or mob rule.

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Judges should not be intimidated in their homes, and democratic societies cannot function when public officials become targets of mob pressure.

When every sector claims the right to decide which laws are binding, citizenship devolves into tribal membership, and the state transforms into a collection of competing exceptions. This breakdown in shared adherence to the law undermines the very fabric of democratic society, where respect for authority and institutional processes is paramount.

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But nations rarely erode because of a single exception. They erode because exceptions become habits.