A number of ultra-othodox Judaist sects are against the existence of Israel as a state; to them, the building of zion by human beings at this time in history is religiously repugnent. Yet, they are automaticly Israel citizens, and get a slice of the government hand out of the loot from Palestinians, American tax payers and guilt-ridden Germans, even if none of their ancestors had anything to do with the particular sorry pieces of land in the middleast or in Europe. Israel is a democracy akin to Classical Athens being a democracy, despite none of the women could vote, despite that more than half the population were slaves. Was/is it more democractic than states surrounding it, you bet.
The state of Israel is the great Zionist socialist experiement to build a paradise on earth for Jews, the chosen people. The project may borrow elements of religion, racism, nationalism as well as facades of democracy and internationalism, whenever necessary. The success of the project depends on not having any one of the elements completely taken over. Therefore, it's best not to have wide-eyed dreams, including dreams of a truely equal-opportunity democracy for all residents. |
