In his lecture, which took place on 18 March 2026 at Union University Law School Belgrade, Professor Kretzmer (Hebrew University of Jerusalem) examined the issue of democratic backsliding in the case of Israel, analysing how security threats and war—including the brutal Hamas attack of 7 October 2023, Gaza operations, and recent direct clashes with Iran—enable further deterioration of democratic institutions.
Professor Kretzmer’s presentation fitted seamlessly into our broader discussion at Union Law Belgrade on the global wave of governmental measures and the rise of authoritarian populism undermining liberal democracy. Across diverse regions, elected governments use legal and institutional reforms not to strengthen democracy, but to gradually weaken courts, independent media, and other checks on executive power. At the same time, populist leaders claim an almost exclusive right to represent “the people,” portraying critics—opponents, judges, and civil society—as illegitimate or enemies of the nation. As Professor Kretzmer illustrated, it becomes significantly easier to push through such measures once an external threat provides a justification for continuous efforts to stay in power.
