Israeli democracy at the crossroads

Cohen-Almagor, Raphael

Abstract

This article considers some of the issues raised by the contributors to this issue of the journal. I speak of the harms of concentrated media ownership and then discuss health rights, arguing that democracy should not neglect its elderly citizens, at the time of their greatest need. There is an unwritten contract between the state and its citizens that should be maintained and preserved. Having said that, in a constrained reality that does not assume that all needs will be provided, people are forced to recognize that optimal health care for all is an unrealistic expectation. Prioritizing becomes unavoidable, and there is a need for the state to offer citizens a number of insurance alternatives. The study goes on to probe the limits of multiculturism and the relationship between state and religion, arguing for separation between the two. It argues for accommodating the interests of the Israeli-Palestinians, striving to safeguard equal rights and liberties for all citizens notwithstanding nationality, religion, race or colour, and insisting that citizens have also duties to fulfil. Finally, the study considers the need for targeted assassinations as means to fight against terror and it proposes the Gaza First Plan as a way to break the deadlock and bring some peace and tranquility to Israel. It should be noted that I have been promoting the Gaza First Plant since 2000, and that just before the proofs went to the printer Arafat died (on 11 November 2004). © 2005, Copyright Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Citation

Cohen-Almagor, R. (2005). Israeli democracy at the crossroads. Israel affairs, 11(1), 254-275. https://doi.org/10.1080/1353712042000324553

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Aug 9, 2006
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2005
• Deposit Date: Mar 13, 2022
• Journal: Israel affairs
• Print ISSN: 1353-7121
• Electronic ISSN: 1743-9086
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 254-275
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1353712042000324553
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/1953360