Camo,

The passing comment in the Wikipedia article does not refer to any specific instance, and certainly not to any systematic attempt. Religious zealots appear everywhere and they harass people who are not the same as them; they can be condemned as a group regardless of what religion they belong to.

Yes, I am quite aware of the rules of dhimmi. I am also aware of Mishpatim rules for slavery. Both have no place in a liberal and democratic society.

It seems clear that you are prepared engage in collective discrimination against persons because of their nominal religion. In this matter you are on the same moral standard as the people you condemn.

Lev - I don't mind being on the same moral plane, because I'm aware of which side of the actual war I'm on.
To create a homeland for themselves, the Jews needed to create a country, and the only place was their traditional homeland. To do so, they had to oppose the major European powers (Britain sent Spitfires and pilots to Egypt to fight Israel - so much for Europe creating Israel of their WW2 guilt...) and the Muslim countries of the area, 5 of which declared war on Israel the day after it declared its existance.
The European countries are resigned to Israel's existance, even if they have been fooled into supporting the Palestinians. The Muslims, political elites and the mob (currently called the Arab street) remain oppose to Israel. As even Ayaan has said, "We prayed for the destruction of the Jews 5 times a day." And why do so many violent 'celebrations' of Muslims throughout the world include a call to the effect that Israel should be destroyed. And we could mention the current President of Iran here.
Unless and until Islam recognises that it has no right to rule the Jews in their traditional homeland, Israel will remain at war with Islam. It is a war of national liberation, against a former oppressor and its supporting population.
If you don't think this is 'compelling' would you mind responding to it directly?

Camo,

The fact that you are among those who consider this a religious war makes you part of the problem rather than part of the solution.

Jews can have a homeland without having a state that is Jewish. Islam has no right to rule anyone without their consent.

These are basic requirements for democratic and secular state.

Lev,

>> Jews can have a homeland without having a state that is Jewish. Islam has no right to rule anyone without their consent

Can you not see the contradiction there Lev? It’s ok for Islam to rule someone with their consent? Is that what you’re saying? It’s OK for Muslim’s to have religious states. It’s not OK for the Jews.

Criticizing Israel for being a religious state in the Middle East is like singling out a politician for breaking a promise. Not only is it not news, it is highly unfair.

It is a neat but flawed argument that it’s ok to single out Israel because Israel is a democratic country and therefore should be held to higher standards. We should expect all states to be held to the same standard, regardless of their form of gov’t or religion

Paul,

If a person wishes to live under the rules of a particular religion that is entirely up to them. I made no such claim that it was OK for Muslim's to have religious states, or any other religion.

Criticism of Israel for imposing religious laws or engaging in ethno-religious discrimination is as justified as criticism of any state for doing the same. Indeed, at risk of repeating myself, Israel is far more secular than many of its neighbours in this regard.

However one inescapable truth is that it continues to occupy and fails to recognise the legal right of Palestinians to establish their own state, even though the Palestinian authorities and all neighbouring states have done the same to Israel. That remains a significant barrier to peace in the levant.

Lev - the problem is not that I think this is a religious war. The problem is that Islam regards Israel as an illegal state, and the recognition Muslim states afford Israel is conditional upon the right of return of Palestinians (overwhlemingly Muslim) displaced from Palestine. The strength of this can be seen by their holding the Palestinian population hostage in refugee camps, instead of granting them citizenship and letting them get on with their lives (Jordan being the exception, but then more Palestinians die in Jordan than in Israel most years).
To repeat, both the PLO and Hammas intend to impose sharia upon Israel when they can - that is, when they form a majority inside Israel. You know what this will mean for both christians and Jews (and others who aren't Muslim).
You can look at the experience of Jews and christians in Muslim countries right now. Is this an Israel you would prefer?