The incomparable William J. Bennett has a brilliant piece on why the United States supports Israel. Israel is the only true democracy in the Middle East in which Christians, Jews, and Muslims are all treated equitably under the law. It is the only nation in the region in which dissent is not met with death or intimidation. It is the only nation in the region that supports equal rights for women, minorities, and upholds the value of pluralism and free speech.
Those who argue that the West should compromise do not understand the enemy we face. Radical Islamists don’t want a Palestinian state any more than Hitler really wanted liebensraum. They want to destroy Israel, not for any past sins, but because of the oldest prejudice – the hatred of all Jews.
If Israel were surrendered, the violence would not end. Radical Islam doesn’t stop at just Israel. Anywhere where women are educated, where dissent is tolerated, and where religious freedom is accepted is a target for them. They’re even attacking moderate Arab regimes in their quest for worldwide shari’a.
The people of Bali weren’t on the frontlines of the war against terrorism, but they became victims of this war. Compromise is not possible against a regime that demands utter submssion to their way of life. Israel is on the front lines of the war on terror, and what is going on in Tel Aviv is only a preview of what could happen in New York, Moscow, Berlin, or Paris. The enemy that the West fights is the enemy of democracy, secularism, tolerance, and even moderate and peaceful Islam. It is an enemy that must be fought by all nations, elsewise those values will falter, and perhaps fail. If those values are not worth fighting for, then what is?
Israel is also the only country in the Middle East whose duly elected prime minister was assassinated by religious fanatics. Try not to forget that.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/index/nrabin00.htm
Israel is not perfect nor even exemplary in any way. They are a chaotic nation which is trying to remain at peace with themselves as well as with hostile neighbors. They deserve the benefit of the doubt for being allies, and our support in the peace process, but little more. It serves no purpose to glorify Israel simply because it is democratic. It has a long way to go in defending the civil liberties of its own people, something many Americans will not slide by so simply.
The predatory depravity of Israel’s foes does not make Israel any better. As Israel sends its youth to serve in the military it becomes more and more a country suseptible to a siege mentality, and we have already seen the results of that in the way they have consistently elected military men to high offices. What prime minister in Israel has had no military service?
Ben-Gurion – Military
Eshkol – Military
Meir – Civilian
Rabin – Military
Begin – Military
Shamir – Military
Peres – Military
Netanyahu – Military
Barak – Military
Sharon – Military
And the military careers of everyone since Peres is more central to their lives. So let’s be realistic about the democracy of Israel, it’s nothing like ours.
I’ve studied Israeli politics in some death, and while it is different than ours, it isn’t all that difference. Looking at the last few Presidents would show a similar pattern. Most of our Presidents have also served in the military in one way or another.
The biggest problem Israel faced before the intifada was the split between secularism and orthodox Judaism. However, with the strongly secularist Shinui Party gaining strength in the Knesset it seems that a more secular Israel is a fait accompli.
Israeli democracy is flawed in some ways, and it suffers from the problems of a parliamentary system, but it’s probably more stable than the system in Italy and some other countries. It’s definitely not perfect, I’ll grant that, but it’s still worth preserving and protecting.
Personally, if the US were in the same situation as Israel, I’m not sure we’d show the kind of restraint they have so far.
And the military careers of everyone since Peres is more central to their lives. So let’s be realistic about the democracy of Israel, it’s nothing like ours.
Given that the draft in Israel is mandatory – everyone in Israel is in the military. Including women! The state is only 50 years old and already had quite a few numbers of wars. It is natural that war heros would be popular among the voters (they are elected democratically).
Oh, and:
Israel is also the only country in the Middle East whose duly elected prime minister was assassinated by religious fanatics. Try not to forget that.
As hard as one might try not to forget that – the name Sadat (assasinated by Islamic Jihad in 1981) keeps popping up. 🙁
Also, I keep forgetting – does Islamic Jihad consist of religous fanatics?? Refresh my memory, please.
“Israel is the only true democracy in the Middle East in which Christians, Jews, and Muslims are all treated equitably under the law.”
I’m sure the Muslim who looks from the street at the Israelis living in his former home would disagree.
I’m sure the Muslim who looks from the street at the Israelis living in his former home would disagree…
…and the Jew who looks from the street at the Muslims living in his house would disagree as well.
…or the Jewish women and children who will spend the rest of their lives with the scars of a suicide bomber who blew up their loved ones in front of them.
There is no justification for the deliberate targeting of innocent civilians. Absolutely none, no matter what sins may exist in the past. Until the Palestinians end such barbarous practices they are not deserving of a state.
Point well taken on Sadat. I just prefer that people not get slavish on Israel for fear of being called anti-semitic. We do have that chilling effect here.
It’s just that this government has recently had votes of no confidence and there is not much power vested in non-sectarian and secular groups there. As well there are significantly powerful groups of Israelis who are militant and don’t believe as we do in the separation of church and state. From my perspective that puts Israel on the edge of being precisely the kind of nation we dislike most.
I do admire the restraint of the IDF, but they are an occupying army and under such a regime, the civil rights of muslim and arab Israelis are always subject to arbitrary curtailment. For many people under the influence of the Israeli government life feels nothing like democracy.
I am concerned that the extent to which Israelis think militarily and religiously whether their concept of liberty approaches ours. They have been survivalists too long and I don’t hear the kind of rhetoric from them that makes me believe their future will be peaceful out of their own initiative.
Where is the Israeli Mandela? I don’t hear a pluralist vision out of Israel.
I just prefer that people not get slavish on Israel for fear of being called anti-semitic. We do have that chilling effect here.
What I find chilling is that you decided t say Israel is also the only country in the Middle East whose duly elected prime minister was assassinated by religious fanatics. What was the point you were trying to make? How is that relevent to anything, if that was true?
As well there are significantly powerful groups of Israelis who are militant and don’t believe as we do in the separation of church and state.
And your point is? How does that take away from Israel being a democracy? In fact, its proof that Israel *is* a democracy with freedom of speech. You are free to form your party based on your ideals.
For many people under the influence of the Israeli government life feels nothing like democracy.
Arabs in West Bank and Gaza are under Arafat’s rule for the past decade (since Oslo). Your beef should be with Arafat. Not Israel.
Where is the Israeli Mandela?
Excuse me???? There are a number of parties in Israel. How many parties are in West Bank? How many of them moderate? Liberal?
There is no question that, relatively speaking, Israel is better led as a nation than Palestine. The question is whether or not Israel as a democracy compares well with other Western democracies. It simply does not. Nor do the recent governments compare well with prior Israeli governments in my opinion. Someone like Bennett standing as he does for enduring values has picked unwisely.
The question is whether or not Israel as a democracy compares well with other Western democracies. It simply does not.
Ok. Make your case. Israel has free speech and true democratic elections. So what sets it apart from other Western democracies?