Jeffrey Goldberg, ever the honest broker when it comes to Israel’s strengths and weaknesses, is worried about the future of democracy there. I’m more worried about the future of civility, the demonizing and dehumanization of the Palestinians; and the fierce potential for violence, especially renewed terrorism, given the blatantly illegal provocations of the Jewish settlers. Democracy is a supple form of government; it can be contorted to cater to ethnic whims–and Israeli democracy is a particularly clever animal, prone to rationalizations of all sorts. It is entirely possible that Israel could emerge as democratic and despicable.
On the other hand, it is good to remember that the moderate Kadima party won the largest percentage of votes in the last election, even though the ultra-Orthodox, Settlers, Sephardim and Russian immigrant populations are growing rapidly. And Israel’s recent economic prosperity is an achievement that the vast majority of citizens want to preserve and build upon. But Goldberg’s worries are certainly justified. I share them.