Is Israel A Typical Liberal Democracy?

8 allegations about Israel and democracy

1. A religion does not deserve a state

Via davidproject.org

Some people believe Jews are only a religion, not a people. However, Jews were a nation before they ever became a religious community. This is why it's possible to be an atheist and still belong to the Jewish People. To learn more, click here.

2. Israel’s Law of Return for Jews is discriminatory

Flash90 Miriam Alster / Via davidproject.org

Like many other countries, Israel offers preferential immigration status to members of its Diaspora community. Germany and India also extend similar opportunities which are entirely legal under international law. To learn more, click here.

3. Israel is a theocracy

Via davidproject.org

While the Jewish religion does play a role in daily Israeli life, other democracies also maintain a state church (England) or pay clergy from the national budget (Greece). While Judaism is the majority religion, all other faiths have complete freedom to worship. To learn more, click here.

4. Democratic states must be culturally neutral

Via davidproject.org

Israel, like most countries of the world, uses national symbols on its flag and in its national anthem. While some Arab-Israeli citizens may not connect with these symbols, this does not detract from Israel's democratic character any more than including "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance or a cross on the flags of European countries negates these countries' commitment to democracy. To learn more, click here.

5. Israel is Illegitimate because of its Arab Minority

Via davidproject.org

Like many democracies, Israel has a large national majority and a significant minority that enjoys equal protection under the law. While not perfect in its record on minority rights, Israel extends much greater freedom to its Arab minority than many other liberal democracies do to their minority populations and certainly more than Arab countries do to their citizens. To learn more, click here.

6. Israel’s control over the West Bank makes Israel undemocratic

Via davidproject.org

Regardless of who you hold responsible for the ongoing impasse in the Palestinian-Israel conflict, Israel still is a democracy within its recognized borders. Nothing Israel does outside of its borders changes its democratic nature inside its borders. To learn more, click here.

7. A bi-national state would bring peace

Via davidproject.org

The UN, at the time of Israel's founding, rejected the idea of "one state for two peoples" in favor of setting up two states for two people. If one state was created in the region, Jewish Israelis would quickly become the minority, and the state would essentially become a Palestinian state. A two state solution is the only option that would serve both peoples. As writer Leon Wieseltier asserts, "A one state solution is not an alternative FOR Israel, it is an alternative TO Israel." To learn more, click here.

8. Israel’s brand of ethnic nationalism is outmoded

Via davidproject.org

Citing the European Union as an example, some suggest that the world is moving away from ethnic national states such as Israel and toward a new, multi-ethnic democratic model. However, European unity has not superseded national and ethnic identity. Moreover, most countries are not yet even democratic, let alone multi-ethnic democracies. The world is far away from this ideal and arguably moving in the exact opposite direction. To learn more, click here.