Why not have one state with equal rights for all, civil marriage, an integrated school system and separation of religion and state? Why shouldn't Israel be a democracy? Most Jews and Arabs know what a democracy is. Jews and Arabs live peacefully together in the US, Australia and the UK. Why not live peacefully together in a democratic Israel.

Maybe, perhaps. Can't rule it out or in! But cannot definitely rule it in! Debatable.
Alan B.

Dear David,

«Why not have one state with equal rights for all, civil marriage, an integrated school system and separation of religion and state?»

Very simple - because the people do not want it!

You mentioned, «Why shouldn't Israel be a democracy?»,
well a democracy is supposed to serve the people of a country - not the international or secular aspirations of people who do not live in that country.

Arabs do live peacefully in Israel as equal citizens; some of them are in the Knesset. Its always the anti-Semites and anti-Israel bigots who know the least about Jews and about Israel.

why not have a one state with equal rights for all?

Because Israel is not a democratic state. It is a
Jewish state. And right from the beginning its
first PM David Ben Gurion made it quite clear that:

"We must do everything to insure they (Palestinians) never
do return."

(from his diary 18th July 1948).

A more recent former Pm Benjamin Netanyahu's approach to
Palestinians was:

"The way to deal with Palestinians is to beat them up,
not once but repeatedly. Beat them up so it hurts so
badly until it's unbearable."

And Israel has imposed institutionalized discrimination
against Palestinians living under its rule in Israel
and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT).

Israel has displaced hundreds of Palestinians in Israel
and the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem as a result
of demolitions and imposition of other coercive measures.

Israel maintains its illegal blockade in the Gaze strip
subjecting its residents to collective punishment
and deepening the humanitarian crisis there.

It restricts freedom of movement of Palestinians
in the Occupied Palestinian Territories through
checkpoints and blockades. And the list goes on.

Jewish safety and Palestinian freedom are not opposing
causes and that only extremists benefit from pitting
the causes of Palestinian freedom and Jewish safety
against each other.

Many well know Jews have regularly called out Israeli
crimes against Palestinians by framing it as a
political issue related to human rights and not religion.

A growing number of Jews in the diaspora are refusing
to accept Israeli oppression against Palestinians in their
name.

Which is only right because the Jewish community has an
inherited trauma of persecution. And what Israel is
doing is not right. However, a one state solution will
not work. Zionists will not allow it.

Dear Foxy,

I know Israel is a Jewish state and not a democratic state. I propose that Israel become a democratic state. I know at the present time most inhabitants of Israel do not want a democratic state. Possibly, the examples of Jews and Arabs living peacefully together in democratic nations might be an example for them to see the benefits of a democratic state. Most Jews in Israel are secular, and the arguments for a democratic state would appeal to them. The just elected government of Israel which includes the Arab List might be a step in that direction. The United States founded as a slavocracy elected Obama president. Nations change.