The Death of Democracy in Israel: One-Third Cannot Vote; Support for Democratic Norms in Decline

Gordon, Neve, National Catholic Reporter

Anyone who follows the news has no doubt come across the claim that "Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East." Usually, this claim is followed by its logical inference: an island of freedom located in a region controlled by military dictators, feudal kings and religious leaders, Israel should receive unreserved support from Western liberal states interested in strengthening democratic values around the globe."

Over the years, some of the fallacies informing this line of argument have been exposed. Whereas many commentators have emphasized that foreign policy is determined by selfish interests rather than by moral dictators, few analysts have challenged the prevailing view that Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East.

In order to examine this issue, one …

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Publication information: Article title: The Death of Democracy in Israel: One-Third Cannot Vote; Support for Democratic Norms in Decline. Contributors: Gordon, Neve - Author. Magazine title: National Catholic Reporter. Volume: 40. Issue: 15 Publication date: February 13, 2004. Page number: 18. © 2009 National Catholic Reporter. COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group.

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