The Only Democracy in the Middle East is Israel (according to who?)

[wheelchairman]

As far as I see it, the occupation and suppression of democracy on the occupied territory revokes the apartheid regime's right to call themselves a democracy.

Apart from the fact that the Palestinians weren't able to call elections when they wanted to back in 2003, and in many cases before that, the imprisonment (and the Israeli government has stated Marwan Barghouti will not be getting out anytime soon despite any form of election) of one presidential candidate, and the hindrance of the campaign of Mustafa Barghouti (who has no party, and will not win, but is the only real threat to Mohammed Abbs) is an undemocratic action of Israel.

And then of course the favorite of the West, Mohammed Abbas, seems to be the only possible candidate left. No, I find it hard to call Israel a democratic state.

[zemanel]

There's Only one democracy (the direct one) , and to be fair there's no place in the world that is one democracy. so obviously Israel wouldn't be such a thing.....

[Raz0rz]

Lets start with the fact that Marwan Barghouti is imprisoned, shall we?
okay well, I dont know if you heared but Marwan Barghouti is a terrorist,
he was responsible for the deaths of many Israeli citizens (yes, INNOCENT people), for that he sent shahids (suicide bombers - belive that if they kill Israelies they will go to heaven and 70 virgins will be waiting there for them...sure).
So, now that you know who Marwan Barghouti is, you still think that Israel should release this murderer, so he would be the leader of Palestine?
sure why should'nt Israel release him, we will deffently can get to an agreement or even peace with him - but NO we wont, the only thing that will happen is more bloodshed from both sides.
Well, can you see now why Israel can not be democratic about this issue? I really hope you can...

[wheelchairman]

Lets start with the fact that Marwan Barghouti is imprisoned, shall we?
okay well, I dont know if you heared but Marwan Barghouti is a terrorist,
he was responsible for the deaths of many Israeli citizens (yes, INNOCENT people), for that he sent shahids (suicide bombers - belive that if they kill Israelies they will go to heaven and 70 virgins will be waiting there for them...sure).
So, now that you know who Marwan Barghouti is, you still think that Israel should release this murderer, so he would be the leader of Palestine?
sure why should'nt Israel release him, we will deffently can get to an agreement or even peace with him - but NO we wont, the only thing that will happen is more bloodshed from both sides.
Well, can you see now why Israel can not be democratic about this issue? I really hope you can...
The Palestinian people have a right to elect the leader they want. The Israeli people have no right to prevent that, it doesn't matter if they dislike it.

The Israeli leadership is also guilty of the death of innocent lives, their method was to use the military, the Palestinians, who don't have such neat resources must resort to personal terror (a really stupid strategy actually..), if you think that Israel has the right to hold Mr. Barghouti back, then any leader of any military that has participated in any action should be held back.

There is also the matter of Mustafa Barghouti, who was held and detained at several checkpoints while Mohammed Abbas was able to get through relatively without problems.

You will not get to any real peace with any leader of Palestine if you keep the Likud party in power, you can't expect peace when you aren't willing to compromise (and I mean actual compromise, not symbolic-half-assed compromises.) I don't think the Palestinian people love the violence, they'd have more reason to hate than you do, however there aren't many choices open to them are there?

[SicN Twisted]

If you want to reply intelligently to this topic, don't try to mention "terrorism" or the "taking of innocent lives" because it's evident that Israel is guilty of doing this on a much larger scale then Palestine (not because of morality, because Palestine doesn't have the resources to wage such large scale terrorism as Israel).

[Offspring_maniac]

Yah I agree but, they are not the only place with people taking lives I mean the usa with president bush is responsable for taking millions of innocent lives as well. I agree though that they need a right to vote taht is not fixed an has more then one party to vote for whether they take lives or not they deserve that. I mean if the us gets to so should they!