Following the release of the remaining living hostages and the return of some of the fallen, the Knesset’s winter session that begins today, will not be “business as usual.”

The Prime Minister is leading Israel toward a new reality wherein the Knesset technically continues to exist, but only as a hollow shell of an institution, and maintaining only the appearance of democracy. This, while all the familiar dangers loom: the judicial coup and the cancellation of his trial; media and free press capture; a government-appointed “commission of inquiry” with prearranged conclusions; suppression of protests and censorship; annexation and protection of Jewish terrorism; attempts to bar Arab citizens from participating in free elections; and, of course, continued exemption from military service for the ultra-Orthodox.

Meanwhile, the government is planning to cut tens of millions of shekels from the Transportation and Education ministries in order to strengthen religious settler “” Torah Nucleus” (“Garinim Torani’im”)” All this while Soroka Hospital has been waiting months for renovation funding, the families of the hostages have turned to crowdfunding to support rehabilitation efforts, and the Nova survivors are once again left to their nightmares and their fate. This is madness.

We at Zulat are committed to using every tool at our disposal to stabilize Israel’s democracy and keep the ember of human rights ablaze, and our presence and actions in the Knesset are essential to this cause. Just as we succeeded in blocking Communications Minister Karhi’s attempts to advance his media coup through cooperation with opposition MKs, civil society organizations, journalists, and vigilant gatekeepers, we will continue to act against these looming threats as well.

We will be present at every relevant committee discussion, briefing Members of Knesset, and providing them with the tools they need to confront the government’s lies, deceptions, and manipulations. We will invite experts to parliamentary discussions to ensure that truth also has a voice. And we will continue to engage the public through demonstrations, conferences, webinars, and civic events.

We can win this battle to defend democracy — but we need your help.

I know, this can all feel hopeless. But despair is not a plan of action. Despair is what this governments counting on. We must keep our heads held high and continue to act, both individually and in collaboration with our partners in civil society, to stand as a counterforce to the government’s assaults on democracy.

We are not alone. We are part of a movement.
And this movement will prevail.