“The secular founders would be shocked to see the power obscurantist religious sects wield.”
... Mike Marqusee an American-born writer, journalist and political activist in London. He describes himself as a "deracinated New York Marxist Jew"

Leaving aside the legitimacy of the origins of the state, for me personally the above statement highlights one of my main personal disappointment of the present state of Israel. The people who built Israel were not religious bigots. They were far from the corrupt selfish capitalist bastards that dominate today's Israeli society. The notion that a minority, comprising religious bigots, have virtual veto over the Knesset is worse than most Arab states. ...

“The secular founders would be shocked to see the power obscurantist religious sects wield.”
... Mike Marqusee an American-born writer, journalist and political activist in London. He describes himself as a "deracinated New York Marxist Jew"

Leaving aside the legitimacy of the origins of the state, for me personally the above statement highlights one of my main personal disappointment of the present state of Israel. The people who built Israel were not religious bigots. They were far from the corrupt selfish capitalist bastards that dominate today's Israeli society. The notion that a minority, comprising religious bigots, have virtual veto over the Knesset is worse than most Arab states. These bigots are except from IDF duty, compulsory for a minimum of 2/3 years for all others, and yet are the main advocates of the militaristic regime. These bigots control marriage and divorce of ALL and are totally totally chauvinistic. Suicide is often the only way out for an abused female. Child abuse is epidemic and Rabbis seem to be instigators.

Should I care how Israel governs its affairs? Well this state is held up by America as an example of democracy and this appears to be its excuse for excusing the excess of Israel and its numerous breaches of UN and International rules. At least half the business of the UN is devoted to Israel based on the Resolutions passed. No other country has required a virtually permanent UN force to guard its borders.

Actually, I'm only getting warmed up. I'd be delight to supply data to backup my points. I'm not convinced that this the best forum for debate on a serious topic, particularly Israel. An article I'm studying presently clarifies why Americans are SCARED of the topic of Israel. Yet I've never been more convince that the end is neigh for these abuses and that it's the majority of silent good Jews that will do it and not the co-conspirator, the USA.This is a case now of the storm before the calm as the abusers have much to lose