Israel says it is a democracy. The USA is definitely a democracy. "Democracy" means, "the people rule". Spain has only very, very recently become a democracy -- under the Constitutional Monarchu of King Juan Carlos....who, before he became king, was in the unpleasant and unpalatable position of saying "yes" to everything dictator Francisco Franco said, as the older dictator prepared the younger royal to take his place...and rule as Franco had...or so Franco thought! Poor Juan Carlos must have seethed inside....but he bit his tongue, outwardly agreed with everything Franco said.....and planned for his people's eventual freedom. Talk about a brave patriot! But it paid off, and today Spain is a Consititutional Monarchy of the best kind. But for centuries, and centuries before this, Spain was certainly NOT a democracy. (Spanish Inquisition....expulsion of Jews....etc.)

If Israel says it is a democracy, it should be democratic. It should let ALL it's people have an equal chance to be heard in the Israeli "Knesset", and in daily Israeli life. But Israel treats it's Arab citizens as far less than equal than its Jewish citizens, and gives it's Christian citizens far less freedom to practice Christianity, openly and with ceremony, than it celebrates even the most minor of Jewish holidays.

This is because Israel proclaims itself not only a "democracy", but a "Jewish State". This seems to mean that Jews are, and Judaism is, primary in Israel, and all other peoples and religions are only tole4ated, at best. But I have also heard the USA described by some as a "Christian Country"....and I shudder to think what the USA would be like, if it was run as the type of "Christian Country", that the majority in Israel, seems more and more to want to run Israel as a "Jewish Country". Both of these theocratic extremes, if put into practice, would necessarily NOT be democracies.....for the minorities, (Jewish and Arab in the theoretical totally "Christian" country of the USA, and Christians and Arabs in the theoretical totally "Jewish" state of Israel), would certainly have very little voice in what happens in these hopefully-never-to-be mainly theocratic states!

To repeat, "Democracy" means "the PEOPLE rule". And "Theocracy" means "the RELIGION" rules. Unless ALL the people, of no matter what faiths, have an EQUAL voice in their country's affairs, you can not have a true "Democracy". Today, even the Vatican treats it's Jewish citizens better than Israel treats its Arab citizens. Because of this, the Vatican comes far closer to being a "theocratic democracy" than Israel ever will, if it continues on it's present path of honouring only Jews and Judaism,and treating other peoplles and religions, with at best a smarmish "accomodation", and at worst, out and out bigotry!

If Israel insists on calling itself a "Democracy", and if it wants other countries to consider it to BE a "Democracy"......Israel had better start acting like a "Democracy"....a place where ALL people living there have a right to equal treatment, under law and custom!