Israel has a population which is divided between a well-educated, technically qualified segment and a segment immersed in medieval religiosity with a high birthrate. The educated segment could probably find a home in western democracies while the superstitious segment might be satisfied with dhimmi status under Muslim domination as long as they could wallow in their superstition. Why should democracy prevail? Isn't it better that peace should prevail?

Dear David F.,

«Israel has a population which is divided between a well-educated, technically qualified segment and a segment immersed in medieval religiosity with a high birthrate.»

Both yourself and the author are oversimplifying.

Netanyahu for example eats pork and especially likes seafood, doesn't keep the Sabbath, takes bribes and has 3 children. The very last thing he wishes for, is for a Messiah to take his place!

The chairman of the Knesset, from the Likud party, is openly homosexual.

Most of the orthodox members of Knesset are well-educated.
Many orthodox women work in hi-tech.

«The educated segment could probably find a home in western democracies»

Not most of the ones I know, that is those who stayed in Israel and have not left till now, most of whom love their country. They might be able to find a home elsewhere, but they wouldn't be happy there.

Also the ones too old and frail to move, or those with small children, especially single mothers.

«the superstitious segment might be satisfied with dhimmi status under Muslim domination as long as they could wallow in their superstition.»

You really think they would accept it?

Now what about intermarriages between these two broad groups - they do exist!
And some people also change camps, both ways.
Should grandparents also leave their mixed grandchildren?

«Why should democracy prevail?»

Well why should it prevail in Australia?
Are you saying that Israelis do not deserve their voice to be heard? Just pay taxes and sacrifice their lives in the army without having a say?

«Isn't it better that peace should prevail?»

Sure - at whose expense?

Israelis cannot even have peace among themselves... and you expect there to be peace with the Arabs as well?

Dear Yuyutsu,

Netanyahu does not exemplify the life of his followers; Donald Trump does not exemplify the life of his followers; and King David did not exemplify the life of his followers. Netanyahu is a literate, intelligent man who is happy to get the votes of those who revel in medieval superstition. He is a demagogue and fits the pattern of demagogues. I don't know any good way to end the conflict. Maybe what I have suggested is a least bad way. I am not saying that Israelis should just pay taxes and sacrifice their lives in the army. I am saying they should stop doing it, get out and leave those who want others to fight for them to their own devices.

Dear Yuyutsu,

Separation of religion and state can be equated with providing free condoms if you want to make a silly argument as sometimes you do. Get real. In any country the religion of its citizens should not be the business of any government if it wants to be a democracy. Israel can be a Jewish state or it can be a democracy. It cannot be both. There is rarely a complete separation of religion and state, but they are too entangled in Israel for Israel to be a democracy. As long as Israel is a Jewish state, non-Jews will remain second-class citizens. Nobody should be a second-class citizen.

Hi david f,
"Israel and Australia cannot be true democracies until they are countries for all of their citizens."

- How can any nation please all its citizens in a liberal democracy?

How are the gays, Christians, Islamists, nationalists, immigrants, feminist and university trained woke and climate activists all going to get along?

How can it be supportive of all it's people all at once?

Dear David F.,

A democracy is supposed to represent its population, not you, I or the author:
If you have mainly garbage people - you get a garbage democracy, but still a democracy.
If you have mainly racist people - you get a racist democracy.
If you have mainly Jewish people - you get a Jewish democracy.
(but please note that this does not imply that I agree with you that Judaism is a religion, I just want to keep this discussion in focus)

And yes, a democracy could have certain minorities be second-class citizens. We may not like to live in such a place, but it could still be a democracy.

«I don't know any good way to end the conflict. Maybe what I have suggested is a least bad way.»

I assume you refer to the Jewish-Jewish conflict because the seeming "Jewish-Arab conflict" is only its reflection.

Well I disagree: that would be pouring the baby with the bath-water.
People just don't want to have to leave their homes, communities and everything else in their lives and become either refugees or dhimmis.

An increasing number of Israelis are calling and planning in detail for a division of the country, with "Israel" mostly to the north and "Judea" to the east:
http://new.thecradle.co/articles/activist-calls-for-partition-of-israel-along-secular-religious-lines
http://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-752520

The division is supposed to be carried out in 5 orderly steps, starting with increasing the powers of local councils, then eventually having the councils form two federations.

Here is the proposed final map: http://newmedia.calcalist.co.il/magazine-10-08-23/images/2-p-800.jpg

This process would be painful, no doubt, but not half as painful as being forced to leave everything behind and restart life elsewhere.