It has long been argued that Israel would eventually have to choose whether to be a Jewish state or a democratic one but not both. Why? Because as the non-Jewish population of the country grew, the Jews would eventually be significant enough to alter the political scene.
Why soon-ish? Recent events suggest that the two state solution is not going to happen. The West Bank is not going to become a Palestinian state with the extensive settlements creating facts on the ground that will be very hard to overcome.
So what happens? The right wing may have hoped that the Palestinians would leave Gaza and the West Bank, but they are not so welcome in the rest of the Mideast and they do not seem likely to leave. Admitting a lot of Jews from elsewhere (Russia) have perhaps delayed the inevitable (at some cost since the Russians and others have to be put somewhere and perhaps alter the balance of political power).
Talking to a former student today, one who is much smarter than I on this area, raised the likelihood that the third intifida would be focused on democracy--that the Palestinians will push for the right to vote in Israel's elections. Yow! This would/will put Israel in a very difficult spot.
As I posted last week, I don't like to write about this particular conflict since people are so divided on it and because I don't spend that much time reading about it (too damned depressing). That the two state solution seems to be off the table just makes me even more frustrated. Again, actors on both sides have heaps of blame to share. So, yet another pox I guess....
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