The State of Israel recently celebrated 75 years of independence, albeit in the wake of a dark cloud regarding its future as a Jewish and democratic state, including the essential significance of its democratic characteristics in relation to its Jewish, national, and religious characteristics.
As a Jewish state, Israel is the homeland of the Jewish nation, and thus entitles all its members to a special key to enter the house. However, inside the home, all citizens of the country must be treated in a fair, just, and equal manner. As a democratic country, Israel should promote principles of an essential constitutional democracy. Essential democracy respects the opinion of the majority, while at the same time ensures that the rights of minorities are protected.
I believe that it is the duty of the citizens of Israel, the Arabs and the Jews, to be active in repairing the gaps and bridging the divisions between themselves. Correcting historical gaps between the majority and the minority cannot be the concern only of the minority. This must first and foremost be the concern of the majority, which is required to balance its interests with the rights of the minority, thus expressing tolerance and compassion toward the latter. I believe that Israel must also be an active, effective, and thoughtful democracy. It must involve the Arab minority in the important decision making mechanisms at every possible level, including at the political-executive level (the government). In this way, the Arab minority can actually be part of the state and identify with its important interests.
Like a pod of dolphins, most Israelis, Arabs and Jews, have lost their way deep in a stormy sea. One wave throws them up, and another wave pushes them down to the bottom of the sea. They struggle day and night for coexistence in a bloody sea of hatred. They continue to swim in the stormy sea and wish for a bright and fresh summer day, but the sea refuses to accept them, and the stormy waves insist on throwing them onto the shore. The pod of dolphins must not despair; it must not give up.
The State of Israel recently celebrated 75 years of independence, albeit in the wake of a dark cloud regarding its future as a Jewish and democratic state, including the essential significance of its democratic characteristics in relation to its Jewish, national, and religious characteristics.
As a Jewish state, Israel is the homeland of the Jewish nation, and thus entitles all its members to a special key to enter the house. However, inside the home, all citizens of the country must be treated in a fair, just, and equal manner. As a democratic country, Israel should promote principles of an essential constitutional democracy. Essential democracy respects the opinion of the majority, while at the same time ensures that the rights of minorities are protected.
I believe that it is the duty of the citizens of Israel, the Arabs and the Jews, to be active in repairing the gaps and bridging the divisions between themselves. Correcting historical gaps between the majority and the minority cannot be the concern only of the minority. This must first and foremost be the concern of the majority, which is required to balance its interests with the rights of the minority, thus expressing tolerance and compassion toward the latter. I believe that Israel must also be an active, effective, and thoughtful democracy. It must involve the Arab minority in the important decision making mechanisms at every possible level, including at the political-executive level (the government). In this way, the Arab minority can actually be part of the state and identify with its important interests.
Like a pod of dolphins, most Israelis, Arabs and Jews, have lost their way deep in a stormy sea. One wave throws them up, and another wave pushes them down to the bottom of the sea. They struggle day and night for coexistence in a bloody sea of hatred. They continue to swim in the stormy sea and wish for a bright and fresh summer day, but the sea refuses to accept them, and the stormy waves insist on throwing them onto the shore. The pod of dolphins must not despair; it must not give up.