Man Sets Fire to Himself in Tel Aviv Protest - Suicide Note

[Count Bobulescu]

Israel is a very interesting subject, everyone concentrates on the Palestinian aspect but there is much more. Its not impossible for the state of Israel to be defeated from within.

Its a traditionally liberal country but I think fundamentalism threatens it more from within than most other states.

I agree, but I think the state of Israel will be strong enough to withstand the threat from the fundamentalists. You know the old joke, lock 12 Jews in a room and you’ll quickly get 13 different and opposing opinions. They can cope with “robust” discussion in a way that “politer” societies like say the Japanese can’t.

[Count Bobulescu]

Here's a mystery. How did this thread with so few replies, many of them off-topic, manage to garner four stars so quickly?

[bernadette]

I agree, but I think the state of Israel will be strong enough to withstand the threat from the fundamentalists. You know the old joke, lock 12 Jews in a room and you’ll quickly get 13 different and opposing opinions. They can cope with “robust” discussion in a way that “politer” societies like say the Japanese can’t.

You're probably right but who guessed an Israeli would assasinate their own leader, and fundamentalists are not interested in debating a problem.

The four stars? that might be me. I think the subject is a good one and will grow.

[C. Flower]

No, you were the first to cite countries other than Israel, see post # 3

Not so - you raised this as a general issue in relation to "almost every state."



International comparison is entirely on topic, in both our views.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Count Bobulescu
Hostile relations with neighbors is by far the bigger problem. Almost every state has to deal with internal social division and distress, so there are a much greater variety of solutions available to deal with that problem. The hostile neighbor issue will likely only be solved by one solution, - two states. And if that doesn’t solve it the neighbors need to take a hard look at themselves.

Not so sure. Self-immolation is an extreme action that historically has taken place in states that are not able or willing to hold their social fabric together.
Vietnam, Tunisia, Greece, the U.K, last week, ....

[bernadette]

Not so - you raised this as a general issue in relation to "almost every state."



International comparison is entirely on topic, in both our views.

There are sick people in every state, and there are those with genuine grievances who can see no way forward. This gentleman appears to have been one of the latter. If his note is true then he qualified for benefits and was denied them. Its the benefits and the reasons behind the denial that are important.

Israel is not a rich country. It has little natural wealth and few assets. It gets its money from the US and from some benefactors. Its not a bottomless pit and most of the money goes on defence.

[C. Flower]

There are sick people in every state, and there are those with genuine grievances who can see no way forward. This gentleman appears to have been one of the latter. If his note is true then he qualified for benefits and was denied them. Its the benefits and the reasons behind the denial that are important.

Israel is not a rich country. It has little natural wealth and few assets. It gets its money from the US and from some benefactors. Its not a bottomless pit and most of the money goes on defence.

What strikes me, is that we could be reading a letter written in Greece and that other European states are not far behind.

There is an identikit economic approach being applied internationally, that abandons vulnerable sections of the population to starve on the streets.

This is a profound shock to a generation that grew up expecting a reasonable living standard and social safety nets. Depression and bursts of rage can be the outcome, where people see no hope of any solution for themselves.

[bernadette]

What strikes me, is that we could be reading a letter written in Greece and that other European states are not far behind.

There is an identikit economic approach being applied internationally, that abandons vulnerable sections of the population to starve on the streets.

This is a profound shock to a generation that grew up expecting a reasonable living standard and social safety nets. Depression and bursts of rage can be the outcome, where people see no hope of any solution for themselves.

Maybe but Greece, the first democracy, was a modern dictatorship for a long time and trouble there is a distinct possibility..

Israel has never been a democracy. Its attraction is its religious significance to Jewish settlers and the preferential treatment they have always received. If the preferential treatment ends trouble is not impossible. It may be inevitable.

[C. Flower]

Maybe but Greece, the first democracy, was a modern dictatorship for a long time and trouble there is a distinct possibility..

Israel has never been a democracy. Its attraction is its religious significance to Jewish settlers and the preferential treatment they have always received. If the preferential treatment ends trouble is not impossible. It may be inevitable.

Any modern state based on a religious or ethnic premise, in a globalised world, is going to have conflicts and contradictions.

This is a thread on the J14 anti-poverty protests this time last year in Israel.

http://www.politicalworld.org/showth...poverty+israel

[Count Bobulescu]

Not so - you raised this as a general issue in relation to "almost every state."



International comparison is entirely on topic, in both our views.

Well in that case, since you asked the first question, it naturally follows that it was the OP that was off-topic in the first place.

[Count Bobulescu]

Israel has never been a democracy. Its attraction is its religious significance to Jewish settlers and the preferential treatment they have always received. If the preferential treatment ends trouble is not impossible. It may be inevitable.

I’d take issue with your assertion that Israel is not a democracy. I’d say that since its inception it has been the only democracy in the Middle East. They have political parties, and elections and a noisy parliament. That about qualifies as a democracy.

[C. Flower]

I’d take issue with your assertion that Israel is not a democracy. I’d say that since its inception it has been the only democracy in the Middle East. They have political parties, and elections and a noisy parliament. That about qualifies as a democracy.

So does Iran.

[Count Bobulescu]

So does Iran.

Exception that proves the rule.

[Count Bobulescu]

Notice you omitted Dubaya's crowning glory.

[C. Flower]

Notice you omitted Dubaya's crowning glory.

I noticed that you omitted it too.

[Kev Bar]

Good piece by Mark LeVine on the affair.

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opi...941478515.html

So does Iran.