There are many reasons why the recent spate of domestic legislation in Israel -- regarding non-governmental organizations, the media, Israel as a Jewish State, the Supreme Court -- is disturbing.
In many of these cases, the Knesset is addressing real and challenging problems. But it is doing so in the wrong way.
The truth is that a number of foreign governments and non-governmental organizations have been funding activities in Israel that go beyond representing a diversity of viewpoints about Israel's political and security situation.
The truth is that it is important that the Palestinians and the Arab world finally acknowledge Israel's right to exist as the Jewish State.
The truth is that there is a perception that the media seems to be tilted to the left in Israel, as in so many other countries.
The truth is the Supreme Court may have rushed too hastily to assert a stronger position in Israel's political system, frightening many on the right.
All of these matters are legitimate subjects for public debate.
When, however, laws are passed that stifle free expression, seek to undermine the independence of the judiciary and, in the name of defending a Jewish state, seek to undermine the rights of Arabs and other minorities, then the very democratic character of the state is being eroded.
This is bad for Israel internally. The modern state of Israel was founded on the principles of democracy and pluralism. Moreover, on a practical level, democracy has been the glue holding together a disparate community.
And it will hurt Israel externally, particularly at a time when delegitimization campaigns are rampant and when so much of the international community sees Israel as blocking peace efforts. Israeli democracy and the perception of Israel as defending democratic values are crucial to Israel's good name.
Most significantly, the efforts by some on the right to paint these laws as consistent with Likud ideology are egregiously off the mark. Indeed, those who initiate these laws are doing great damage to the nationalist cause they espouse.
A little history is in order. When Ze'ev Jabotinsky, and then Menachem Begin created and built Revisionist Zionism, they were often accused by the Zionist establishment as not only being extreme nationalists but of being anti-democratic. Some suggested they were Zionist "fascists" in the making. Indeed, when Begin was elected prime minister in 1977, there were those on the left who implied that Israeli democracy was at risk.
Nothing, of course, could be further from the truth. The very fact that Likud came to power after 30 years of Labor's dominance of the Israeli political system was a sign of Israel's democracy strengthening and maturing. Whatever one thought about their broader nationalist views, and clearly, the arguments about territory continue to this day, the charge that the Revisionists, and later the Likud leadership, were anti-democratic was inaccurate and insidious. Prime Minister Begin, consistent with the views of his mentor Jabotinsky, did everything to strengthen democratic values, free speech, free courts and free expression.
For decades, Likud, representing the mainstream right, has been a living example that nationalism and democracy can co-exist in a healthy and harmonious relationship. Indeed, as strong defenders of Israel's democratic values, the right was more able to make its case for nationalist foreign policies. Whether one agreed with them or not, the case could not be made that they were undermining democracy at home at the same time. While the left may have claimed that nationalism and anti-democracy were linked, they had no basis for that assertion.
Now the introduction of a series of laws that in their totality have the feel of restricting democratic values is making the early politicized criticisms of the left seem relevant.
Much of the legislation is being introduced by Yisrael Beiteinu, but the fact is that these bills could not progress without the approval, tacit or otherwise, of Likud. In doing so, they are potentially tainting legitimate expressions of hawkish security policies.
There are so many reasons why this movement should be resisted. Likud members and cabinet ministers Benny Begin and Dan Meridor, and at times opposition leader Tzipi Livni -- heirs to the Revisionist tradition -- have made it clear that these laws violate the democratic principles that underlay Revisionism.
It is clear that people on the left will oppose such legislation. What really ought to happen, however, is that more leaders from Israel rightist camps should be standing up against efforts to undermine Israel's judicial, press and speech freedoms. They must assert that not only is democracy an essential component of Israel's very being and a potent constructive force throughout Israel's history, but that the defense of Israel's vibrant democratic traditions are a core value for those on the political right.
Alon Ben-Meir: Escaping the Israel Ghetto
MJ Rosenberg: Is Israel Officially Giving Up on Democracy?
I would be the first to say as a secular, and total freedom loving Person, I would be more afraid to visit my parents country, then Israel. the restrictions and strict Islamic laws in my parents country, frightens me to death.
but with that said, that doesnt mean Palestinians dont have the right to exist, and seek UN recognition, they have every right as a neutral observer, to do the same thing Israel did
to seek UN recognition they shouldnt be punished for that.
I am very open minded, and I would claim to be non-biased.
and I want 2 state solution, regardless of how undemocratic Palestinian state would be,
if they can drive their own country and if their people wants to be oppressed because of their religious beliefs, then they should be welcomed to do that. as long as they run their own country
and dont attack or interfere with Israel.
to seek UN recognition.."
When you say "do the same thing Israel did", you must acknowledge that when Israel declared independence, the arabs could have done the same thing but they chose to take care of the Jews and then declare independence which obviously did not work out. When Israel claimed independence, palestine was just a territory where jews muslims and christinas live and they did not get a long. So the UN drew up borders for a Jewish state and an arab state. The jews accepted and the arabs did not. After years of War and land lost there must be a negotiated peace treaty for them to get a state. Every war in history is settled with a peace treaty and this case is no different. trust me when i tell you that the vast majority Israeli wants peace. We dont want to live in fear of going on a bus or going to a cafe or sending our kids to school. We want to send our kids to school and not worry if there will be a suicide bombing or a rocket on their playground. At this point, going to the UN is a complete waste of time and will not achieve anything for anyone. They need to sit down and neogotiate the borders, security, etc..
"The Ministerial Committee on Legislation rejected a bill limiting nongovernmental organizations’ ability to petition the High Court, though Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said in Sunday’s cabinet meeting that there were “distortions” in the current judicial system that must be fixed.
Knesset observers note bills that fail to gain the cabinet's support generally die in committee - and that Netanyahu's opposition effectively buried the bill single-handedly.
Netanyahu's renewed vocal opposition to the recent slate of judicial reform bills came after Intelligence Minister Dan Meridor on Saturday threatened to resign if the bills became law.
Netanyahu has also expressed his opposition to a bill that would require prospective justices for Israel's Supreme Court be vetted by a Knesset committee – much as their counterparts in the United States are vetted by the US Senate."
Democracy is live and well, and will continue to thrive in Israel.
http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=247140
Lets not conflate Israel proper as a democracy vs the 'occupied or disputed' territories. There's still a conflict going on in those regions so you can not assess that region like one can within a Sovereign region. Do you know of a more humane occupation? Im sure the Pal'ns are happy they are not dealing with a regime like that in Iran, Syria or previously Libya. Isn't it brutal how the Arab host nations have treated the Pal'n people? The Arab host nations have been the one's pressing for RoR all these years, at first with hopes of destroying the Jewish State but now as well as for seeking a form of repentance for the treatment of the Palns. Somehow the stalemate needs to be figured out in order to ever change the status quo. Unfortunately neither side right now is motivated to seek bilateral talks. The UDI has had a negative impact on both sides which now need time to unthaw their feelings.
If the USA and Israel would listen to what Mr. Foxman writes (a number of foreign governments funding activities in foreign nations...)
a LOT of people would lose their job in the USA (and Israel as well.).
The 250 000 troops that the USA has deployed to occupy foreign countries all over the world would only be the tip of the iceberg.
Bullseye.
In fact, no nation has the "right" to exist. Each nation must earn it, as Jefferson might say, even repeatedly. I can't recall any nation suggesting "a permanent right to exist". The United States doesn't have one. We just exist. If you'd like to recognize us, fine. If not, well.....maybe we can work it out.
The right to exist is yet another abstract, Israeli negotiating tactic. A distraction. Israel can't stop breaking the Geneva Convention, they can't control themselves, and they want an anti-democratic "contract" to enslave the land into this regime? There are more jews in the united states than israel and our nonjewish democratic documents have provided more protection for them and other religious minorities than Israel. Israel is a threat to jews, other religions, democracy and modernity.
And do you think the Islamic Republic of Iran should be dissolved?
Many Israelis do not see why.
The fact is that it is the hardline arab and jewish people a small procentage wich will accept not an inch of compromise.
That said, Israel is a democracy only for one religious group, not the Christians or Muslims. It is anything but democratic from those dispossed and/or expell since 1947-48. What we are seeing today is the inability of a country based on the rights of a single ethnic or religious group to maintain any semblance of democracy when that state denies democratic rights to others.
South Africa was also a democracy ... for whites. Israel will surely go the same route. It is just a matter of time, unless the American Jewish community exerts its powerful influence in a positive way on the increasingly rightist state of Israel.
Shalom!
Other than your acknowledgment of Foxman's comments being on-target, the rest of your post is complete nonsense.
That's great news: So now, the Palestinian refugees camped down in neighboring states can enjoy the right to return, just like Jews not even born yet in Philadelphia!!
And to think, all this time I thought you were just one more deceitful clone...
The Druze community in Israel is officially recognized as a separate religious entity with its own courts (with jurisdiction in matters of personal status - marriage, divorce, maintenance and adoption) and spiritual leadership. Their culture is Arab and their language Arabic but they opted against mainstream Arab nationalism in 1948 and have since served (first as volunteers, later within the draft system) in the Israel Defense Forces and the Border Police.
Worldwide there are probably about one million Druze living mainly in Syria and Lebanon, with 104,000 in Israel, including about 18,000 in the Golan (which came under Israeli rule in 1967) and several thousands who emigrated to Europe and North and South America.
The Druze community in Israel has a special standing among the country's minority groups, and members of the community have attained high-level positions in the political, public and military spheres.
Dr. Naim Aridi
That contradicts with the idea of secular democracy. Domination of religion in civil laws shows lack of secularism in that country and there cannot be democracy without secularism.
If all minority and majority groups in Israel are "equal"... how do they have "special" standing among the country's minority groups?
“I grew up among Israeli Jews, mostly members of Kibbutz Kfar Hamaccabi. And they never made me feel different. I always felt equal. This is the Jewish state, but I am part of the country, and my identity is Israeli, not Palestinian.”
"The Western democratic world has a lot to learn from Israel about democracy,” says Khaldi. “Yes, we make mistakes, but who doesn’t make mistakes? As a shepherd I learned to give in. A shepherd is ultimately responsible for bringing the goats in from the pasture, and he must give his all and give in. That’s the way it is in diplomacy, too: If we’ve failed once and haven’t managed to explain that Israel is a normal country, we have to try again and again and again until this changes. And it will change.”
-Ismail Khalidi. Bedouin. Israeli.
I am pleased that comments are allowed on this thread, It is cowardly to post an article then block all comments.
Please tell me as a buddhist or a christian or a muslim where we can go and claim a territory in this world. I would like to know that.
"The Jewish nation has existed for millenia even though the nation was dispersed and had no territory it could claim."
You are quite true for the first part which typically defines 'the Jews as a nation without territory'.
"Now they want to maintain that situation to 'their territory'.
The second part contain the word 'their land' which directly clashes with the definition, oxymoronical. So, we must formulate out. The first thing to do is to end occupation....and all other things will follow within international norms.
Hope HP is democratic enough to print my post. Adios!
Perhaps you just don't like American Jews? -:)
Democratic states go to war all the time.
so NO Israel is not a true democracy
Blaming the victims!
The Palestinians are clearly at fault..I mean their ancestors had the audacity to born on land that would eventually be coveted by others! How dare they!
Stop with the bombs? The Orwellian inversions of reality never cease! It's the Israels who drop the bombs within Gaza; ( Gaza is basically the word's largest refugee camp - given most Gazans are the descendants of those who were ethically cleansed from their homeland by the invading Zionists) their last operation killed 1400 people, including many children!
What a a hateful and useless thing to say. Here's a clue sir - time didn't stop in 1948. You might look into that old saying "Pride goes before the fall"
A compromising attitude, a generous attitude would serve far better.
Once upon a time, the ultimate test for the provenance of a Princess, was placing a pea under a pile of palliasses. Once upon a time, the quintessential proof of democracy was the right of referendum for the population. Surely when it comes to a decision on peace. Laying claim to that doctrine while denying that determination, amounts to little more than taking the p**.