Is Israel a Democracy?

Most people will tell you that the modern State of Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East. But is really a democracy?

Let’s look at the Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel. It reads: “Accordingly we, members of the People’s Council, representatives of the Jewish community of the Land of Israel and of the Zionist movement, are here assembled on the day of the termination of the British Mandate over the Land of Israel and, by virtue of our natural and historic right and on the strength of the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly, hereby declare the establishment of a Jewish state in the Land of Israel, to be known as the State of Israel.”

Then, the declaration touches on important issues such as equality, justice, peace, development, openness and assisting fellow citizens. But nowhere in the entire document was the word democracy mentioned.

In my search on Wikipedia and on several Israeli government websites I found that the State of Israel defines itself as a parliamentary democracy, but that the founders of the state had refrained from calling the new country the Republic of Israel because of the democratic connotation of the word republic. – In a parliamentary democracy, the citizens choose their representatives for parliament according to their political affiliation, and then the political parties choose their leaders.

In his writings, Herzl laid out plans for how the country should be created, Jewish immigration, treatment of minorities, official work hours, equality for women and minorities, health insurance, military service, and mandatory free education. – Again, the word democracy was nowhere mentioned. – The only time that word was used, was in a document prepared by the United Nations in 1947, that proposed a partition plan to divide Palestine into two independent, democratic states – a Jewish one and an Arab one. – As we all know, a Palestinian state (and certainly not a democratic one) – never came into existence.

Do you know that Israel is the only country that does not have a Constitution and is unable to draft one since the concept of a “Jewish State” contradicts democratic principles of pluralism, secularism and equal rights? – But then why would Israel need a constitution when it has an eternal covenant with the Almighty?

Israel does not separate religion and government. It routinely passes religious laws on issues of family, marriage, divorce, and immigration to prevent non-Jews from immigrating or to remain in the country that gives Jews priority.

One of the major tenets of Judaism is the belief that a redeeming figure known as the Messiah will appear at the end of history, bringing about a profound and positive change in the world. – In Jewish eschatology, the Messiah is a future Jewish king from the Davidic line, who is expected to be anointed with holy anointing oil and rule the Jewish people during the Messianic Age and world to come. 

The Messianic Redemption will be ushered in by a leader, a descendant of Kings David and Solomon, who will reinstate the Davidic royal dynasty. According to tradition, Moshiach will be wiser than Solomon, and a prophet like Moses.

Since the Messiah will begin His rule by judging and purging evil from His earth (Joel 3:1–17) and establish His earthly throne on Mount Zion in Jerusalem (Ps. 2:6), it looks like Israel’s future will be a kingdom and not a democracy.