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From: tan@ihlpg.UUCP (Bill Tanenbaum)
Newsgroups: net.politics,net.religion.jewish
Subject: Re: Zionism is not racism; Anti-Israel = antisemitic
Message-ID: <1461@ihlpg.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 3-Dec-85 03:19:24 EST
Article-I.D.: ihlpg.1461
Posted: Tue Dec  3 03:19:24 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 3-Dec-85 20:51:57 EST
References: <682@k.cs.cmu.edu>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
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Xref: lsuc net.politics:2265 net.religion.jewish:1643

> [Tim Maroney]
> No one anywhere, regardless of their religion, has the right to set aside a
> plot of ground and say "All those here must follow the rules of the religion
> of the majority."
------
I agree.  Of course, most countries that have done so are Islamic countries,
e. g. Iran, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Pakistan, Sudan (under Nimeri).
------
> I am disgusted that Jews, who have been the chief victims
> of theocracy in the past, would turn right around and create a theocracy of
> their own; but not surprised, since each successive generation of humanity
> starts learning all over again.
------
I am disgusted that Tim Maroney misrepresents the situation in Israel.
Israel is by no means a theocracy.  Unfortunately, due to the fact that
under Israel's system of proportional representation the Orthodox religious
parties often hold the balance of power, SOME religiously based laws exist.
However, Jewish religious law is NOT the law of Israel.  For example, the
sale and consumption of pork is not illegal.
Israel does not have legal separation of church and state, as does the U. S.
(Even in the U. S. many localities have Sunday closing laws).  However, the
absence of the legal wall does not make Israel a theocracy, any more than
the legal position of the Anglican Church in England makes England a
theocracy.  It is true that some Orthodox Jews (Kahane is an extreme
but not typical example) are doing their damndest to make Israel a
theocracy, but they haven't succeeded as yet.
-- 
Bill Tanenbaum - AT&T Bell Labs - Naperville IL  ihnp4!ihlpg!tan