ethnocracy or democracy in Israel?
December 15, 2006 9:36 AM   Subscribe

We didn't disappear. Many laws in Israel do not apply to Palestinians; often the most important laws especially the ownership of land. Is that democracy?
posted by hard rain (20 comments total)

This post was deleted for the following reason: these posts do not go well here and unless there is substantive new news, dragging out the same debate and dilemmas is not condusive to sitewide harmony. Thank you and have a happy holiday season.



 
Yes. No. Maybe.
posted by gwint at 9:40 AM on December 15, 2006


Anyone who isn't forced by geography to take sides in this conflict but does is a half-blind asshole.
posted by Mayor Curley at 9:40 AM on December 15, 2006


ethnocracy or democracy in Israel?

Try THEOCRACY.
posted by MaxVonCretin at 9:43 AM on December 15, 2006


I'm sympathetic to your sentiments, but MeFi gets a lot of posts on the Israel/Palestine issue and few go very well, particularly if they seem framed toward one side or the other.
posted by justkevin at 9:43 AM on December 15, 2006


weinberg, steinberg, iceberg...

J00Z SANK THE TITANIC
posted by quonsar at 9:44 AM on December 15, 2006


hard rain, why don't you just fall already?
posted by jonmc at 9:47 AM on December 15, 2006


So, wait a minute, let me see if I have this straight. There's a country called Israel that used to have a lot of Palestinians and not so many Jews, but now it's got a lot of Jews and not so many Palestinians... and the Jews have passed a bunch of laws that favor themselves... and the Palestinians are pissed... and someone wrote an outraged article about it. Have I got that right? Anyway, I expect the whole thing to be resolved now that MetaFilter is finally dealing with it!
posted by languagehat at 9:50 AM on December 15, 2006


Anyone who isn't forced by geography to take sides in this conflict but does is a half-blind asshole.

On the other hand, if you sit on the fence too long, your asshole gets totally blind.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 9:51 AM on December 15, 2006


Wait, what's a Palestinian?
posted by thirteenkiller at 9:52 AM on December 15, 2006


Is that democracy?

Sure, if the majority votes for it. That's why we write constitutions; it was the answer to all the political philosophers who said that democracy was nothing more than the tyranny of the majority.
posted by jefgodesky at 9:57 AM on December 15, 2006


Why yes it is. Democracy doesnt mean much other than some body elects, in some fashion, some people to some political offices; usually the most powerful offices. As opposed to instant/pre-approved appointments like you would see in a monarchy.
posted by damn dirty ape at 10:04 AM on December 15, 2006


Mayor Curley has it:

Anyone who isn't forced by geography to take sides in this conflict but does is a half-blind asshole.
posted by koeselitz at 10:04 AM on December 15, 2006


what MaxVonCretin said
posted by analogue at 10:07 AM on December 15, 2006


I didn't vote for it, so it ain't democracy.
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:08 AM on December 15, 2006


I believe, quite sincerely in fact, that this conflict will continue unbated until the heat death of the universe, unless some unidentifiable and unaffiliated third party enters the region and, without commentary or ceremony, begins butchering children from both sides in the most heinous, brutal, and degrading manner possible.

I think that such a level of violence might finally exhaust the machismo and appetite for battle that everyone in that region seems to share.
posted by Pastabagel at 10:17 AM on December 15, 2006


Anyone who isn't forced by geography to take sides in this conflict but does is a half-blind asshole.
posted by Mayor Curley at 12:40 PM EST on December 15

Does this include Jews and Arabs born, raised, and living in the U.S. and Europe?
posted by Pastabagel at 10:19 AM on December 15, 2006


Flagged as noise.

My money's on 43 total posts before this gets nixed. Anybody else want to place bets?
posted by koeselitz at 10:24 AM on December 15, 2006


Most democracies, throughout history have not had universal sufferage. Or even majority sufferage. When the U.S. was founded only Male Landowners were allowed to vote.

So a country can still be a 'democracy' even if the majority of the people there can't vote. Not a very good one, but it still fits the definition.
posted by delmoi at 10:24 AM on December 15, 2006


NEVAR FORGET!
posted by koeselitz at 10:26 AM on December 15, 2006


Delmoi, every Arab citizen of Israel has the right to vote, and many do. That is not saying that they have full equality or don't suffer any oppression from the government, but let's be accurate here.
posted by SBMike at 10:27 AM on December 15, 2006


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