Simon Sinek is one of the western world’s most prolific influencers. Still don’t know about him? Choose any social media platform and he is out there.

In a recent podcast with Steven Bartlett, Sinek observed that people put on uniform to serve in armies, whether or not they like or love their leaders at the time. Why? Why will they risk their lives?

Because each soldier on the line TRUSTS in the commanders back home – generals and politicians.

How does this relate back to what is happening in Israel today? Because in response to the proposed changes to Israel’s judicial system, there have been mass protests, involving hundreds of thousands of people.

And now, for the first time in the country’s history – a country that still faces genuine daily threats to its very existence – hundreds of reservists are threatening not to turn up for duty. Most of these people are associated with the top units. For the record, Israel’s standing army is not very large. It relies on those reservists.

The protesters come from most parts of society. In the past week, the Bedouin and Arab communities have also started to hit the streets. Former leaders of the police, the air force and of the judiciary – to name a few – have addressed the protesters. Whatever the age and background of these people, they serve in the army and pay their taxes.

There is no one single reason for this break in confidence in the political system. However, what we have seen in recent weeks is mind-blowing.

• With the proposed changes, the Kenesset will have 99% authority over the courts.
• The minister in charge of the police – with minimal previous experience, but arrested dozens of times – has tried to introduce his policies for controlling demonstrations.
• The Minister of Finance travelled to America last week, where is poor understanding of English led to video mocking him going viral.
• The independence of the Bank of Israel has been brought into question by a senior minister, although he retracted his comments after the markets pounced on the shekel.
• Even the Central Bureau of Statistics is not immune. The Prime Minister wishes to approve a confidant has the new director-general.
• The slow response of the army to preventing teenagers torch a series of houses and other property in the town on Huwara.
• The approval of such actions by members of the government coalition, including the Minister of Finance. The latter backtracked once it became clear that American officials and banking chiefs were to boycott his overseas trip.
• And,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, so the list goes on.

These are attitudes, statements and positions that would have been repulsive and unacceptable to the Israel’s founding fathers, across the spectrum. As for current society, the number of notable figures that have come out in support of these changes can be counted on one hand.

A government in a democratic society may not be liked by all. But you assume that it will ‘have the back’ of all decent citizens.

It is when you lose that mutual trust, as per Sinek’s observations, then you have a government leading its people towards a veritable abyss.