...because of its democratic form of government where no one - not even the Prime Minister - is above the law:
The corruption case against Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has earned Israel tremendous respect throughout the Arab world, where many have called on their leaders to benefit from Israel's democratic system and independent judicial system.
Words of praise for Israel are a rare phenomenon in the Arab media. But judging from the reactions of many Arabs to the corruption case in the past week, the trend appears to have changed.
Even some Arabs who describe themselves as "sworn enemies of the Zionist entity" have begun singing praise for Israel.
Over the past week, the corruption case against Olmert received wide coverage in the mainstream Arab media, prompting an outcry about the need for transparency and accountability in the Arab world.
"Show me one Arab or Islamic country where a prime minister or a senior government official was ever questioned for financial corruption or bribery," said a reader who identified himself only as Majed.
Majed, like many others, was responding to a news story on an Arab Web site about the testimony in court of American philanthropist Morris Talansky, who told police he had given Olmert more than $150,000 in cash over the course of some 14 years.
Another reader, Sami, commented: "The Israeli regime with all its defects is better than all the Arab 'democracies' and still changes ministers and governments every few years."
A Saudi national named Abdel Karim urged his Arab brethren to stop criticizing Israel and learn something about its democracy. "Before we curse Israel, we must learn from the democratic and judicial system in Israel, where no one is above the law," he wrote.
I didn't see it in the article; But I do have to wonder if there isn't some influence from the US and Allied invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan at work here. The invasion must have caused some in the Middle East to take a deeper look at themselves, their countries, and, of course, their like-it-or-not neighbor Israel.
I think the "purple fingers" in Iraq have really caused many in the Middle East to have their viewpoint of their world seriously broadened.
I wish more Americans would see that the Iraq invasion will have a lasting effect, not just on the Iraqi people, but also on the whole Middle East.
The former status quo just wasn't acceptable any more - George Bush had the vision to see this and take action.
(okay, I'll get off my soapbox now)
Posted by: Charles | May 31, 2008 at 11:28 AM
Well said. I think you are right.
Posted by: Gail | May 31, 2008 at 02:15 PM
I read that 50% of the population of Saudi Arabia is under 15. The Post WWII years and the post OPEC years have created an educated middle class. It's hard to tell people to shut-up and sit-down when they have been educated and see how the world works elsewhere. Then they see that there is nothing contradictory between their faith and democracy...
All of the countries of the Middle East and Central Asia are facing the same issues. The "dead-enders" of the historical types can only kill them. They cannot stop the desires of people for representation, no corruption, changes in govt that does not kill...
Whenever people discuss Iraq, they avoid asking "What would have happened if we had continued the Clinton policies?" They also avoid telling us what will happen to the ME and world if we pull out-? Without changes in Iraq, what would have heppened-? If we run away from victory, what will happen-?
Posted by: AndyJ | May 31, 2008 at 02:46 PM
If we run away from victory, what will happen-?
A Democrat triumph. What more do you need?
Posted by: Ymarsakar | June 01, 2008 at 12:10 AM