unaccountable judges who are too arrogant to restrain their interference in elected government is real problem in all 'democracies'

people have forgotten how to respect one another the mentality its my way or the highway is the cental problem to any Democracy. especially in Israel. The all or nothing mentality needs to stop before it tears apart society. Everything else ranting and raving about l this bill and that bills are just the symptoms not the root cause.

Although I agree that the recent Knesset activity is harmful to democracy, it is hardly the catastrophe Gefen presents. Alas, the hyperbole is typical of what passes for political argument in Israel. Yes, the direction of recent Knesset movements is regrettable, but when I swim a few meters off the coast of Tel Aviv, I am not necessarily headed for Gibraltar. Ed Codish Pardessiya

Israeli democracy has been in a coma for a very long time. Oslo 1 was passed with votes bought from Shas, that at least could be justified as dirty politics. Oslo 2 was passed with votes bought from Goldfarb, pure bribery, and the courts said nothing. However, democracy really ended when the courts and government shut down opposition radio "Arutz 7" and then violently ethnically cleansed 10000 law-abiding citizens, with no recourse Will Netanyahu succeed in reviving Israel democracy? Not if Gefen has his say.

....US Supreme Court justices do indeed need to be confirmed by Congress (whose members are elected by the people) through a process of open and televised hearings, and only after the judges are first nominated by the President (who is elected by the people. Knowing what type of SC judges a President will nominate is often a deciding factor in how some Americans vote.) The Supreme Court is part of the checks and balances that define the US federal government, as outlined in the US Constitution (which has been repeatedly amended as per the desires of the people.) This is indeed democracy. Secondly, any op-ed that has produced this much vitriol from the more frothing right-wingers must indeed have hit the nail on the head. Congratulations. Know that outside the tiny world of this talkboard your comments will resonate widely.

It's not democracy if non-citizens and foreigners have a voice in a democratic country. Democracy is only harmed if citizens' voices are stifled. The only thing affected with recent laws is the influx of illegal money from foreigners to affect Israel's govt and people, and the use of violence and sedition against the State and its citizens. People can still vote, protest, and gather freely, and the Press is still open provided they don't get involved in seditious actions like printing stolen State/military secrets. So, per the definition of Democracy, Israel is still a strong example. What Gefen is referring to is the Left's belief that they should do whatever they feel like, cross all political and geographic borders, and breaking laws and court rulings, to fulfill their agenda. Nothing is more more anti-Democratic than that.

It's no different than a trade agreement between nations at the govt level. What is problematic is a govt funding programs and NGOs which work actively against another nation's govt. That's analogous to the US funding rebels in Central America to bring down the current anti-West govt there. Your attempt to equate the two is both childish and a clear depiction of the intellectual void that exists among the Left.

It's yet another example of the Left trying to change the rules and definitions of Democracy and equality in order to fit their agenda. It would be un-democratic to NOT cry foul at the attempt of the Left to hijack every incident for their agenda, at the expense of the rest of the population. Sadly, this is not isolated to Israel. I see it happening in countries all over the world.

If jailing rightists en masse some years back didn't "end israeli democracy" so limiting shaddowy leftists' funding won't end it.

with foreign leftists well funded propaganda machine in Israel is that it lacks any sense of self preservation, since it doesnt have within its organization, enough Israelis who live here. Thats why they push such radical views to the extreme end of dismantling the integral fiber of the country.