The Mideast’s First Democracy
Good news comes by way of John V. Whitbeck, an international lawyer from Jedda, who enlightens us today that with the successful Palestinian Authority elections, the Middle East will be gaining its first democracy! In a letter in the International Herald Tribune, he writes:
While they may not yet be thinking in these terms, the Palestinian “old guard” lived its finest hour on Wednesday. Under the extraordinarily adverse conditions of occupation, they organized a fair and inclusive election, counted the votes quickly and honestly and stepped aside gracefully when defeated. Viewed from the region, this is breathtaking.
The Middle East now has its first true democracy . . .
Umm, so what does that make of Israel’s upcoming elections, which are–as always–marked by a vigorous, free press and multiple candidates and parties? A desert mirage? Somebody should inform the New York Times’ Almanac 2004, Freedom House, the CIA’s World Factbook and the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office that they are suffering from delusions of Israeli democracy after prolonged exposure in the desert sun.
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