What kind of state is Israel?

In its Basic Laws, Israel defines itself as a Jewish and democratic state, and the nation state of the Jewish people. The country is a liberal democracy with a parliamentary system, proportional representation, and universal suffrage. The prime minister is head of government and the Knesset is the legislature.

Is Israel the only democratic state in the Middle East?

According to The Economist Group’s Democracy Index 2020 study, Israel is the only democratic country (qualified as a “flawed democracy”, ranked #28 worldwide) in the Middle East, while Tunisia (#53 worldwide) is the only democracy (also “flawed democracy”) in North Africa.

How did Israel become a democracy?

The first answer ascribes the sources of democracy in Israel and its resilience to the origins of the country’s founders. According to this argument, they came from Europe and brought with them European traditions of democracy, liberalism, a multi-party system and freedom of speech – much as the Pilgrims on the Mayflower brought to North America the British parliamentary tradition, which

Can Israel remain a democracy?

Without a Palestinian state, Israel can be either a Jewish state or a democracy but not both. If it annexes the Palestinian territories and remains democratic, it will be split roughly evenly between Jews and Arabs; if it annexes the territories and suppresses the rights of Arabs, it ceases to be democratic.

Can Israel be a Jewish state and a democracy?

According to a 2013 Israel Democracy Institute poll, three-quarters of Israeli Jews “believe that the State of Israel can be both Jewish and democratic”, whereas two-thirds of Israeli Arabs do not believe that such a combination is possible.

What kind of democracy does Israel have?

​Israel is a parliamentary democracy, consisting of legislative, executive and judicial branches. Its institutions are the Presidency, the Knesset (parliament), the Government (cabinet), the Judiciary and the State Comptroller .