Dear David F.,

One can only wish that what you suggest could
happen. But what leanings does the current
government of Israel and their new PM have?
Has anything improved for the Palestinians
recently? And if most of the Jews in Israel are
secular who voted the current government in and
the current PM?

Sorry, I frankly don't see a one state solution
happening in Israel any time soon. The only way
any change could happen is for the US and the
Jewish diaspora put pressure on Israel.
Realistically do you see that happening?

Dear Foxy,

What is most likely to happen is that Jews outside Israel will feel less connected to Israel, and Israel will go its own way. I have never been to Israel and have no plans to go there. It is just another non-democratic country to me.

Dear David F.,

I have always wanted to go to Israel -

I have friends in Tel Aviv. My brother and his
wife went there not so long ago and they loved
it there. I hope that your wishes for Israel
becoming a one state democratic country does
come true - where people can live in peace
together.

Peace will never happen until Israel decides, or is forced, to become a good responsible world citizen.
Sadly it has many bad examples to follow.

A common misunderstanding is that Israel is a Jewish state: No, Israel is a Hebrew state.

It is no wonder that Jews who follow the Western culture, arrange their schedule by the Gregorian calendar (including a "weekend" on Saturday-Sundays, dates starting at midnight, X-mas and "New-Year"), speak English, do not pray in Hebrew nor read Hebrew literature and scriptures, find no interest in Israel.

On the other hand, Christian, Muslim and Druze Arabs who participate in the Hebrew culture and speak the Hebrew language fluently, find themselves welcome within Israeli society. Christian and Druze Arabs were long accepted in the Israeli political system and Muslims too are gradually being integrated and I very much hope for this trend to continue.

The citizens of Israel want to continue having a country that lives by their culture, that speaks their language, that respects their calendar.
They will never give all that up without a bitter fight (and this they are very good at), just as most Australians wouldn't willingly give up theirs.

No place on earth is truly democratic, but comparatively, Israel is far more democratic than Australia.

The Australian farce on democracy allows, for all intensive purposes, only a choice between two perpetual parties. Democracy is supposed to be "one person one vote", but if one fortunately happens to live in a "marginal electorate", then they have some power to choose between the two, while another who lives across the street in a different electorate has 0 influence. In the Israeli electoral system, while still imperfect, the vast majority of voters have an equal vote.

Unlike Australia, even prisoners in Israel are allowed to vote, possibly in attempt to repeal the laws that landed them in jail to begin with.

Also unlike Australia, even amidst the heaviest COVID lockdown, Israelis were able to go out and demonstrate against Netanyahu and his government, which they eventually replaced - that much the right of protest is considered sacred there.

Yuyutsu,

Israel forces uses excessive force during law
enforcement activities in the Occupied
Palestinian Territories.

Israeli forces routinely kill Palestinians,
including children in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories. Many killed are unlawfully killed
posing no imminent threat.

The Israeli authorities arbitrarily detain
thousands of Palestinians from the Occupied
Palestinian Territories holding them without
charge or trial.

Torture and other ill treatments of detainees including
children are committed with impunity.

The Israeli authorities target human rights defenders,
journalists and others who criticize Israel's
occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Syrian
Golan Heights.

Violence against women persists especially
Palestinian citizens of Israel.

Israeli authorities deny asylum seekers access to a fair
or prompt refugee status.

To call Israel a democracy is sadly - ignorance.
It needs to stop. But as long as Israel gets the
support it gets - nothing will change.