Note: The translations of articles from the Hebrew press
are prepared by the Government Press Office
as a service to foreign journalists in Israel.
They express the views of the authors.
We Want Democracy But Don't Understand It
(Article by Sever Plotzker, "Yediot Ahronot", Shabbat Supplement, Aug 6,
1999, p.21-1)
A joint project of Yediot Ahronot and the Israel Democracy Institute
60% of Israeli citizens are satisfied with their democracy, but as time
goes by, they want more democracy, according to the results of a
three-month survey conducted by the Israel Democracy Institute and Yediot
Ahronot. The survey also reveals that there is fuzziness and confusion in
the understanding of the relevant concepts.
The waves of immigration, the breakdown of ethnic cohesiveness, the
economic gaps are all phenomena that have been reported on as likely to
strengthen anti- democratic feelings among Israeli citizens. But long-
range surveys, including the opinion polls conducted by the Israel
Democracy Institute published below, disperse fears of deepening and
intensifying anti-democratic perspectives in Israel. The opposite is true:
As time goes by, the number of Israelis claiming that "there is too much
democracy" is diminishing, and the percentage of Israelis believing that
Israeli democracy does not satisfy them and needs to be strengthened is
rising.
Beyond this the transition from a feeling of "too much democracy" to a
feeling of "lack of democracy" occurred during the last three
administrations, and is thus not directly related to the functioning of
any particular government. It derives from the public's disappointment
from the way democracy in this country does, or does not, succeed in
coping with the forces threatening the state's existence. It is also
related to demographics. Those born in Israel, Europe and America tend to
criticize the failures of Israeli democracy more than other ethnic groups.
It is also related to different perceptions, sometimes even contradictory
ones, of democracy by various population sectors. Immigrants from the CIS
and Eastern Europe see a positive side of democracy free elections
and a negative side complete and even "exaggerated" freedom of
expression. The ultra- orthodox mainly seek in democracy economic equal
rights, since they suffer, in their own opinion in contrast to the
opinion of the secular public from severe social discrimination. In
their mind, this is Israeli democracy's greatest failing.
The multiplicity of the faces of an ideal democracy allows not a few
sections of the public to hold contradictory civic ambitions. 100% of the
ultra- orthodox respondents to the IDI questionnaire want Israel to be a
Halakhic state and 96% want it also to be a democratic one. How do these
contradictions coexist? By considering democracy as a formal agreement for
holding elections and forming a government (and giving political
expression to the power of various interest groups) only, and not as a
practical realization of the liberal idea of separation of religion and
state.
The contradictions and misunderstandings regarding the meaning of
democracy is not limited to the ultra- orthodox sector or new immigrants.
Even today, no less than 57% of Israeli citizens, and some 65% of Jewish
citizens, are prepared to surrender democracy i.e. surrender the rule
of law in order to protect "security interests". They do not even ask
for details regarding those security interests in whose name they will
give up the rule of law. Only a fifth of the Israeli public believes that
in every instance the principle of the rule of law trumps non-specific
security interests.
Confusion also reigns regarding the place for a "Halakhic state" in the
democratic space. Even though nearly 100% of Israelis want their country
to be democratic, 38% of them want it to be a Halakhic state as well. Two
thirds of Israelis support the separation of religion and state, but even
so, 46% are sometimes prepared to concede democracy in favor of Halakha
or even give it up once and for all.
These contradictions express a partial understanding only of the concept
of Western democracy. This partiality derives from superficial teaching of
democracy in schools (and even its complete absence of Western democratic
studies in many educational systems). Among significant public sectors in
Israel, "democracy" carries a ceremonial and technical character, without
being understood as a system of inalienable civil rights.
In light of the fuzziness and confusion inherent in the concept of
democracy, it should be noted that 60% of Israeli citizens are satisfied
with their democracy. The relatively high level of dissatisfaction is
found among Soviet immigrants, a common phenomenon among immigrants, and
among the Arab minority towards whom Israeli democracy has been found
wanting.
Many of democracy's institutions regularly win public trust among the
decisive majority of the population. Foremost is the legal establishment
and its guardians. Israeli media also enjoys a high level of trust,
especially when compared to other democratic states.
After the May 1999 elections, the level of trust in the institution of
prime minister and government rose significantly. This is an expression of
the election results themselves, the desire for change among voters and
the high esteem held for leadership qualities of Ehud Barak - - but not
for his performance as prime minister, which has not been been examined in
surveys. In March 1999, only 38% of the population trusted then prime
minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It seems that the current government and its
leader will not have to cope with such a nadir of public trust.
Graph 1: Level of trust in state institutions
(March '99 figure in parentheses)
IDF 89% (91%)
Supreme Court 83% (85%)
courts 76% (82%)
state prosecutor 73% (80%)
police 69% (73%)
prime minister 68% (38%)
government 66% (44%)
Knesset 64% (54%)
media 58% (57%)
political parties 44% (37%)
Graph 2: In your opinion, what should the State of Israel be:
A democratic state:
all respondents 96%; Arabs 88%; Russian immigrants 98%; ultra-orthodox 96%
A Jewish state:
all respondents 85%; Arabs 33%; Russian immigrants 88%; ultra-orthodox
100%
A Halakhic state:
all respondents 38%; Arabs 36%; Russian immigrants 12%; ultra-orthodox
100%
Separation of religion and state:
all respondents 67%; Arabs 75%; Russian immigrants 71%; ultra-orthodox 15%
Graph 3: Index of satisfaction of democracy in Israel.
Overall grade in March 59%; in July 60%.
(March 1999 figures in parentheses)
Place of origin: Asia and Africa 67% (64%); Europe and America 56% (55%);
Israel 68% (61%); Arab 53% (59%); Russia 37% (48%); overall respondents
65% (60%)
Graph 4: In the event of a contradiction between the
rule of law and the need to protect security interests:
In every instance the rule of law should be protected -
all respondents 19%; Arabs 48%; Russian immigrants 16%; ultra-orthodox 6%
It depends -
all respondents 24%; Arabs 40%; Russian immigrants 17%; ultra-orthodox 29%
In every instance security interests should take precedence -
all respondents 57%; Arabs 12%; Russian immigrants 67%; ultra-orthodox 57%