No, just Palestinians. Arab Israelis can vote. But Jewish parties do refuse to include Arab political parties in governing coalitions, diluting the value of that vote.
It’s rather difficult to include parties - Balad and the UAL - which don’t formally recognise Israel. I agree that coalitions overlooking Hadash (which is a mixed party, in any case) is a mistake. Although that’s actually in good part because they’re far left, including a large outright communist faction. I myself agree with Hadash MP’s Dov Khenin the basics of a two-state solution…
So you’re saying refusing to even consider Hadash as a coalition partner is not based on racial prejudice? Lots of other countries seem to include communist parties in coalitions.
Except, I’d point out, that the right in any country are very unlikely to do so, not just in Israel! When Kadima failed to form a government, they were in formal discussions over membership.
The only people who I believe ruled out Hadash on racial grounds were Nation Union. Which isn’t a surprise.
Except, even the left refuses to form a coalition with them.
…The left are not the ones forming the coalitions! You’re determined to “prove” something here. Again, they were in discussions with centralist Kadima in 2009, but Kadima couldn’t put a majority together, so…
You’re also overlooking the fact 30-33% of Arabs vote for “Jewish” parties. Primarily Labour and minor parties (like Meretz, although some Druze vote right wing) - and a number of Labour MK’s have been and are Arab.
Virulent racism is a hallmark of the Middle East, Arab and Jew alike. They are now firmly entrenched in their positions.
Religion is a whacky thing… it has lead essentially to this neverending conflict over what is effectively a marginal environment few in their right mind would particularly want to live. All my Jewish friends are perfectly happy not to live there, even a number of ex-patriate Israelis. I fondly remember my driving instructor who was an Israeli immigrant swearing up and down that getting out of there was the best thing he had ever done and the place was a giant lunatic asylum.
Anyway not really here nor there, just every so often my mind boggles.
I think my point is just that trying to base a democracy on religious nationalism is a mugs game and I’m always afraid Israel is this far from turning into Iran Lite.
Er, Israel has PR. And the Religious Nationalists are quite obvious. They hold 12 of 120 seats in the current Knesset. (edit: sorry, that was the old figure) 59 seats are held by explicitly secular parties, and 15 more by a party in practice secular.
(I’d point out that in the UK, there is a grand total of 6 of 650 seats held by Parties which are not Christian in nature)
Also, given the Isralie Supreme Court has repeatedly overturned attempts to ban Arab parties, whereas Iran still had a lot of banned parties… again, it’s a false equivalence. Only Islamist parties are allowed in Iran. Meanwhile, 11 of 120 seats in the current Knesset are held by explicitly non-Zionist parties. And Zionism per-se is not comparable to Islamism anyway AND there’s a vast difference between left’s Labour Zionism and the right’s Revisionist Zionism!
Of course Balad recognises Israel - their MPs sit in the Knesset don’t they? It’s not like Northern Ireland were Sinn Fein MPs would refuse to sit in the British Parliament because they didn’t recognise its authority. What you really mean is that they don’t accept Israel as being a Jewish state. In fact they call that constitutional definition of the country “racist”.
And, you know, it is racist. If you have a ethnic minority who are all Christian or Muslim and you define your state as being Jewish then you are being racist. If the situation was reversed with 20% of a Palestinian state being Jewish, and the Arabs constitutionally defined the country as Islamo-Christian (and definitely not Jewish) would that not also be racist?
If the major Israeli parties are so secular, why do they all support Israel being a Jewish state?
I won’t contest the “lunatic asylum” concept, but is the Levant really “marginal”?
Honest question: I’ve never visited the “holy land”, but I guess I was under the impression that it was relatively fertile, if not lush. Land of milk and honey and all that.
Because Judaism is more than a religion, perhaps? There’s always been a strong secular movement with Zionism.
And funny, the reverse has no Jews living there at all. Hmmm! Keep fighting the good fight against Israeli democracy…
Because Judaism is more than a religion, perhaps? There’s always been a strong secular movement with Zionism.
What? You mean a race? Are you saying that the major Israeli parties are secular because they are racist?
And funny, the reverse has no Jews living there at all. Hmmm! Keep fighting the good fight against Israeli democracy…
I actually think Israeli democracy is pretty strong and does a surprisingly good job in representing its minorities in spite of the racist treatment of its Arab parties (repeatedly trying to ban them), the racist constitution (our country not yours) and the half century long illegal occupation of Arab lands.
And that quote right there is as much bullshit as saying Balad are opposed to the state of Israel. There have been Jews living under Arab rule for centuries before Israel existed. I grant you there are reasons for you to be fearful of them gaining a majority after the years of mistreatment, but past history and present policy suggests they would at least live alongside the original Jewish population and their offspring. Even the most extreme Palestinian accepts that.
Jag
3197
The fear predates the occupation and goes back to the Palestinian Mandate. Both sides have responsibility for that.
It’s a culture (as well as a religion, of course). That’s not necessarily better or worse, but it is different than race. Just wanted to put that out there for clarification.
It’s whatever’s convenient to whatever sophistry is desired.
