Dear Foxy,

Whatever you wrote, what has it to do with democracy?

Are you saying that democracies cannot do bad things that you do not like?

If a kingdom behaves badly, then you can blame its king.
If an aristocracy behaves badly, then you can blame its elite or ruling party.
If a theocracy behaves badly, then you can blame its Ayatollahs.
If a democracy, such as Israel, behaves badly, then you can blame the majority of its people, but do not falsely claim that it is not a democracy, because Israel, like it or not, is far more democratic than Australia.

Yuyutsu,

I question whether Israel can call itself a democracy.
Israel's occupation of the West Bank and other Palestinian
Occupied Territories is a key issue.

A democracy is not an arrangement where the country
controls every aspect virtually of the lives of millions
of people who have no real say or vote in the government
that rules them. The religious establishment in Israel
is part of the state and that presents a host of
challenges and problems when it comes to issues of freedom.

Palestinians have no real say in decision making in Israel.
Democracy is not to be inside the Knesset as a minority.
Democracy is to give the Palestinians the right to
influence the system. But as a Palestinian they are not
allowed to be a part of this regime. Because this regime
defends the state as a state of the Jews.

Calling Israel a "democracy" is misleading because the word
"democracy" doesn't change the conditions for Palestinians in
Israel. Just as the word "Democratic" does not make the
"Democratic People's Republic of Korea - North Korea"
a democracy.

Dear Foxy,

Israel's occupation of the West Bank and other territories is indeed very bad, but it does not disqualify Israel from being a democracy.

The residents of the West Bank are under occupation, not Israeli citizens, and those in Eastern Jerusalem are Israeli permanent residents. Even in Australia, permanent residents cannot vote even if they live in Australia all their lives, until they become citizens by alleging their loyalty to Australia. The residents of Eastern Jerusalem and the Golan Heights have this option, but most do not use it because they are unwilling to allege loyalty to Israel. In fact, many of them remain loyal to the idea of Israel's destruction.

«A democracy is not an arrangement where the country
controls every aspect virtually of the lives of millions
of people who have no real say or vote in the government
that rules them.»

Wow, you just described Australia... let's continue...

«The religious establishment in Israel
is part of the state and that presents a host of
challenges and problems when it comes to issues of freedom.»

Indeed, this is sadly true everywhere on this planet, but why do you call Israel's establishment "religious", I wonder?
As far as I can see, there is nothing religious about it!

«Palestinians have no real say in decision making in Israel.»

Because they are not Israeli citizens.

«Democracy is not to be inside the Knesset as a minority.»

Democracy IS the curse of minorities, all over the world!

«...But as a Palestinian they are not
allowed to be a part of this regime.»

And most of them who are allowed, do not want to. I wish they did.

«Because this regime
defends the state as a state of the Jews.»

The Israeli regime only provides lip-service to Jews. Israel is a Hebrew state, not really a Jewish one.
In fact, most Jews round the world (i.e. reform-Jews) are unwelcome in Israel.

«"Democratic People's Republic of Korea - North Korea"»

Besides the Palestinian issue, the differences between Israel and North Korea are vast. Australia could learn a lot about democracy from Israel!

Yuyutsu,

I hope that Israel's style of "democracy" will never
come to Australia. The state is so strong. They can
confiscate Palestinian land, demolish Palestinian
homes, not let them study their history in schools,
and worse - as already mentioned.

Israel's new PM believes the conflict with Palestinians
is pretty well insoluble. He backs Jewish occupations in
the occupied Palestinian Territories (West Bank, et al),
and opposes any political statehood. So nothing will
change.

We shall have to agree to disagree on this. You
consider Israel a "democracy". I consider Israel a
Jewish state - not a democratic state.

I have no further wish to argue with you.

Yuyutsu.

I'd like to draw your attentio0n to the fact that
many well known Jews have regularly called out
Israeli crimes against Palestinians be framing
the issues as political issues related to human
rights. A growing number of Jews in the diaspora
are refusing to accept Israeli oppression against
Palestinians in their name.

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. They can secure their
rights without denying them to others. It can be done
as the author of this article suggests.

The Jewish community has an inherited trauma of
persecution. They should not persecute others.
Both can live side by side in peace. It's time this
happened.

Again with the two state meme?

What those who advocate it really mean is that Israel has to give concessions to the so-called Palestinians so that they agree to live peacefully.

And when that doesn't work (see Gaza) then Israel has to give more concessions.

And when that doesn't work Israel has to give more concessions.

And when that doesn't work.....

There will be peace in the Levant when those who call themselves Palestinians realise that they can't destroy Israel, that they have 100% of what they want. Oh and when these so-called Palestinians aren't led by people who profit from the on-going crisis.

Then there will be peace or what passes for peace in that part of the world.