Elections show differences between Israel and enemies

This month marks the 75th anniversary of Israel’s first open and free elections for its national legislature, the Knesset.

Contrast that with the last time Palestinian Arabs had elections for their parliament—it was in 2006.

And in 2006 Hamas overwhelmingly won those elections.

As a result of the Hamas win the Palestinian Authority’s presidential elections were postponed indefinitely and Mahmoud Abbas, elected in 2005, has never allowed elections again.

In its first 75 years Israel has had 25 national elections.

Israel’s 1949 elections took place on January 25, a little over nine months after Israel declared its independence and a month before Israel and Egypt signed its armistice agreement.

In other words Israel was still at war when they held their first elections.

This commitment to free elections was without a doubt extremely important to Israel’s founding fathers.

Multiple parties led by Arabs participated in this initial election.

Israel has always been an extremely vibrant democracy.

Its politicians and jurists, as well as everyday Israelis, have gone to great lengths to ensure that anti-democratic ideas are marginalized while also protecting civil rights at the same time.

None of the nations that have fought wars against Israel can say the same.

Not one.

Moshe Phillips

Bala Cynwyd