[firstOrder]

> While Islamic democracies elsewhere (such as Indonesia) are doing fine, in the Arab world the very fabric of the state is weak.

The Western countries and Israel have been doing everything they can for the past century to keep Arab democracy weak.

In the soi disant "only democracy in the Middle East", the West bank, claimed by Israel, where ultraorthodox right off the plane from Russia can go to a West Bank settlement to vote, but in which Palestinians who have been there for thousands of years can not vote for any government which Israel or the US recognizes - why not let the Palestinians vote? Israel is no democracy - they claim the West Bank is Israel, in a defacto sense it is, and they do not let Arabs vote. We see the contemplation of Islam causing problems, why don't we look at Judaism in the same manner in how it is against democracy? Meir Kahane said as much himself, and his policies have been running Israel, and the US and European backing of Israel for the past years.

Meanwhile the US and UK destroyed Iranian democracy, its parliament, Mossadegh, and installed a dictator whose CIA-backed secret police arrested, tortured and killed those who wanted a return to democracy. We had France, the UK and Israel invade Egypt in 1956, and on and on and on.

The economic and military might of the west and Israel has been fighting autonomy and democracy in the Middle East for a century, and will continue to in the next century.

Despite this, as we can see the beginnings of in the Arab Spring, as well as a history rooted in pan-Arab nationalism, in the years to come Arabs will see themselves freed from the shackles of imperialism and Zionism, and restore power in the the Middle East to the people of the Middle East.

[davidw]

Exhibit A for why political articles are a bad idea. Right or wrong, this comment is likely the beginning of a flame war.

I think The Economist is great, and subscribe to it, but perhaps there are more suitable places to discuss middle east politics.

Edit: after a few minutes, Exhibits B, C, D, E and F have been posted.

[scalesolved]

Exactly this, the western world has long meddled in the region, drawing arbitrary borders and sowing unrest politically,economically and via force many times.

[pedalpete]

I believe/hope you are getting confused with Palestinians in the West Bank and Arab Israeli's (who may or may not be of Palestinian descent). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_citizens_of_Israel

Palestinians vote(d) for their own leadership. I live in Australia, but I'm not an Australian, therefore, I am not permitted to vote here. I am unlikely to ever gain citizenship here, therefore, I will never be able to vote.

[firstOrder]

I am confusing nothing. Israel claims the West Bank is part of Israel, and with IDF troops marching through the West Bank and settlements popping up everywhere, it is de facto Israel, and according to Israel, de jure Israel.

Can an Arab in the West Bank vote in the Israeli elections? No. Thus, Israel is not a democracy. The article questioned if Islam was conducive to democracy. On that basis, we have to question whether Judaism is conducive to democracy. Meir Kahane did not think it was, and his policies are what are being carried out on the West Bank.

"Palestinians voted for their own leadership". What does this mean? Can they vote for MPs in the Israeli Knesset? No. Can they vote for representation in a country that Israel or the US recognizes? No.

You moved to Australia. Arabs have been living in Jericho for thousands of years. Yet they are not allowed to vote for any government of a country recognized by Israel or the US. Yet an ultraorthodox Russian off the plane from Russia in a new settlement next to Jericho can vote in the Israeli election. People in the West Bank were invaded in an offensive war in 1967 and stripped of their rights. You moving to Australia was your choice. They had no choice.