Israel = the only true democracy in the Middle East [so far, 2011]

Submitted by Diana (United States), Feb 7, 2011 at 21:32

Israel = the only true democracy in the Middle East [so far, 2011]

Congressional Record - Congress - [December 4, 2001] - Political Science [Page 23762]
Israel is under attack in the Middle East because it is the only true democracy that exists in the Middle East. There are more than 20 Arab nations in north ...
http://books.google.com/books?id=NnnysOf9t38C&pg=PA23762

Peace in the Middle East: the challenge for Israel - Page 81 Efraim Karsh - 1994 - 167 pages - Preview
...[and] the only true democracy in the Middle East
http://books.google.com/books?id=atUyhdQv1YIC&pg=PA81

As the only true democracy in the Middle East, Israel is our most important ally, and a critical partner in the quest for peace and security in this ...
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/US-Israel/kerry.html

Congressional Record - Page 50 - Preview (2005)
Israel is today the only true democracy in the Middle East, and the foundation of her government is similar to our own — freedom of religion, freedom of speech, respect for basic human rights and ...
http://books.google.com/books?id=vWBxXUEZ13EC&pg=PA50-IA433

The Middle East: Abstracts and index: Volume 29, Part 2 Library Information and Research Service - 2005 - Snippet view (Page 330)
As the only true democracy in the Middle East, Israel has both the burden and the glory of a vigorous public square. We as Americans must be the truest and best kind of ally-forthright enough to say what we think- and steadfast enough ...
http://books.google.com/books?id=w6FtAAAAMAAJ&dq=vigorous

Plans for peace: negotiation and the Arab-Israeli conflict - Page 59 Karen A. Feste - 1991 - 179 pages - Preview
Israel is the only true democracy in the Middle East and the only country in the Middle East for whom the United States is truly a friend of the spirit, not merely a friend of convenience...
http://books.google.com/books?id=HonVUmCeVDQC&pg=PA59

Senate Dems Reject Call To Cut Israel Aid - CBS News 1 Feb 2011 ...
(AP) WASHINGTON (AP) - Six Senate Democrats are rejecting a deficit-driven proposal by freshman Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky to cut U.S. aid to Israel.
In a letter Tuesday to the top House Republicans on the Appropriations and Budget committees, the Democrats said aid to Israel, the only Democratic nation in the Middle East, is imperative. They backed the $3 billion in foreign military assistance that the U.S. provides annually to Israel.
Paul said last week that the nation faces a fiscal crisis and argued that the U.S. can't give money away, even to allies, as the debt grows.
Signing the letter were Sens. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, Bill Nelson of Florida, Ben Cardin of Maryland, Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Robert Casey of Pennsylvania and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/02/01/ap/congress/main7305529.shtml

Democracy and Economic Freedom: An Unbeatable Combination for the Middle East
Posted February 4th, 2011 at 4:30pm
[Heritage.org]
The lack of democracy in the Middle East, and the problems that causes, are well-documented. Hereditary monarchs and military dictators dominate governments throughout the region. Their non-democratic governments tend to abuse human rights and suppress fundamental freedoms that Americans regard as unalienable rights. In the Middle East, only Israel is a democracy in the way that word is understood and practiced in the West.
It is no surprise, then, that citizens of Tunisia and Egypt have taken to the streets demanding more democratic forms of government. That demand is one that we, as Americans, cannot fail to support. Still, we need to be clear that while the lack of democracy in the Middle East is a serious problem, it is not the only—or even the most serious—problem. The real issue in the Middle East is the relationship between the rulers and the ruled. Replacing Hosni Mubarak with Mohammed ElBaradei or any other leader, whether democratically elected or not, will do little to improve the lot of ordinary Egyptians. As long as Egypt has an economic system in which citizens depend on the government to provide food, shelter, and other basic commodities, it will make little difference who is distributing the meager handouts government can provide. Replacing one "father figure" with another does not constitute real change.
http://blog.heritage.org/2011/02/04/democracy-and-economic-freedom-an-unbeatable-combination-for-the-middle-east/

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1) The demonization of 'building houses' in J'sm... If you call building houses for non-Arabs "intolerance," then you should revisit your entire dictionary.

2) The non "pluralistic" Arab world VS Israel open debate

Can you find the equivelance of leftist Israelis in the Arab world, those that harshly criticize the anti-Jewish racism and anti-Israel demonization?
In other words, can you find me a parallel to Haaretz in the totally anti-Israel bigoted 'Arab world'?

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