Who Deserves Democracy? In the Palestinian territories, hypocrisy is the best policy

[oberliner]

As the dangerous situation in the Palestinian territories unravels, one question stands out: Who are the good guys? The politicians who are now trying to topple a democratically elected government or the people in power who are trying to pursue their ideology—one that they didn't hide from the voters who freely chose to elect them? And how come all these world leaders are publicly siding with the revolutionaries?

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, visiting the West Bank on Monday, declared, "If the international community really means what it says about supporting people who share the vision of a two-state solution, who are moderate, who are prepared to shoulder their responsibilities, then now is the time for the international community to respond."

I'm not sure if Blair thought seriously about this sentence before uttering it—but, in some ways, it captures the essence of the West's real policy—America's too—in the Middle East. Not the rhetoric, the reality: no democracy, no "elected government," no "right of the people to decide" (which they did, in last January's elections). It's the people who are "moderate" and who "support a two-state solution" that deserve the support of Blair and President Bush. And if those moderates lost an election—well, never mind. You can always call for another one, and another one—until the people get the message and elect the desired government.

http://www.slate.com/id/2155722/#

[barb162]

1. The Palestinians will be voting, right? Then it's a republic

if they are electing representatives.

[Tom Joad]

4. Palestine is under military occupation. eom

[Englander]

6. Ssh.

Don't spoil the fantasy, by trying to introduce reality to the discussion.

[Englander]

5. ~~

?click

[pelsar]

2. elections are not a democracy....

they are perhaps the most "visable" element, but democracy has a lot more to it....

[barb162]

3. yes, I view it as a way of thinking

but a lot of people just vote and that's it and take it all for granted