Now we are eyewitnesses of inhumane events

     We have been seeing the Russian invasion into Ukraine for more than a year and half. Now we are seeing one more; ‘Israel-Hamas war’.
     One child is killed every ten minutes in Gaza. Hospitals and schools, even humanitarian corridors are targeted by air raids. It is reported (as of Nov. 11th) that 11,000 people have been killed and about half were children. More than 100 of the UN officials were killed. Other workers of humanitarian organizations, hospitals and media from various countries were also killed.
     Even though Hamas started this fight first and Israel has the right to defend itself, bombarding innocent people in Gaza could not be allowed. Plus, Israel has stopped supplying water, food and electricity to Gaza. All those things are against humanity. I would say that Israel must stop inhumane doings now. I also strongly protest to the Japanese government against its endorsement of Israel. I believe that at least Japan should have been neutral and humanitarian.
     Israel has just announced that they would hold a four-hour combat pause a day. However, it is questioning how effective the pauses will be.

Consequently Netanyahu’s convenience and benefits

     This conflict consequently contributes to Netanyahu’s convenience and benefits because he has been on the brink of losing his position.
While he has been investigated and indicted for fraud, bribery and breach of trust since 2018, he made a comeback as a Prime Minister of a coalition government in 2022.

     Since the judicial reform was proposed in January 2023, there have been large scale public demonstrations to protest it and to criticize him: the reform aims to curb the power of the Supreme Court and give the parliament and the ministry more controlling power over the Supreme Court.

     Since the war started, the public protests couldn’t go on because of the mandatory conscription for most of the people. Netanyahu’s trial was temporarily stopped because of a wartime cabinet.

     I’m guessing that the longer this war will go on, the longer Netanyahu can stay in power without being prosecuted in a trial.

That’s a typical formula

     I can see a typical formula of terrible politics and the Israel is an exact example of it.

1. Nationalism: a feeling that we are superior to any other peoples, that unity is more important than diversity of people and societies or that name someone our enemy and arouse hostility to them.

2. Religious extreme (or religious right ideology): a too strong desire that religious values should come true in political practices.

3. Power: staying in a politically powerful position.

4. Military: being able to control the military.

5. Ambition: a strong feeling to achieve or change something, personally or politically.

6. Media control: cooperation to propaganda, brainwashing, manipulation of public opinion, etc.

     If a politician, a political party or an administration shows any of those features, you can think the situation will get worse. They will eventually damage your country in any way. All you think ominous, unreasonable and ludicrous will come out.

Japan may follow to the formula

     According to some records and historical analysis, the politics of Imperial Japan was like that: the media, at the time newspaper and radio, inflamed people’s nationalism. People were excited about the Japanese army’s victory in China with newspapers’ reports. The Emperor was the subject that people worshiped and the symbol of unity. He was the only one who owned both the political power and the divine authority. His intention equaled Japan’s ambition as well as people thought that they should dedicate themselves to fulfilling it. He also had the right to decide all about the military. Then, what happened to Imperial Japan in 1945?

      It is said that the present atmosphere in Japan is similar to Imperial Japan in the 1920s to 1945 or possibly worse: As the Internet Era, people in an echo chamber or a filter bubble have almost no opportunity to reach different and diverse information or opinions. That’s why people’s opinions easily become narrow and intolerant.

      It may not be seen but there are a certain number of people who have a principle of racism, sexism, xenophobia, misogyny, or patriarchy, which are values from religious right ideology, among middle aged or old men. They seem to believe that those principles will make Japan great again and democratic values have impaired Japan. Thinking that the Japanese Parliament is highly male-dominant, I would be desperate.

     Furthermore, more than half of the people have no interest in politics and elections and don’t vote. They also aren’t so angry about corruption and other wrongdoings of politicians. That means that the fewer people with the less effort can control mass people indifferent to politics through propaganda. Actually, a survey shows that the ratio of positive answers to the question, ‘Do you trust information from TV?’ is over 60% and that high is only for Japanese people.

     One year ago, Prime Minister Kishida declared that the defense budget would be doubled, to 4 billion yen a year. Japan is going to develop its defense capacity. If you have a weapon, you will use it some time. I am very concerned that the Japanese government will also go down the same path as the Israeli Government.