The mythical democracy

Larry Kuznetz (“Seeking a peace partner,” Sept. 28) judges that Palestinians have failed to offer formal recognition of “Israel’s right to exist.” That’s a sort of code for “Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state in the Palestinian homeland.” It’s rather like asking American Indians to recognize the United States as a white state.

People who imagine Israel to be a democracy have in mind a mythical state that existed between November 1966 and June 1967, the only period during which the majority of Palestinians living under Israeli control were not subject to military rule. None of those who have lived under military occupation and/or military blockade since 1967 has the right to vote in Israel. They have no say in the way their territories are controlled by Israel.

Eighty percent of the original inhabitants of the territories that became part of Israel in 1948 have been physically excluded from exercising any civil and political rights in their homeland. But even the Palestinians who hold Israeli citizenship and have the right to vote have always had second-class citizenship, discriminated against by myriad laws and institutions that privilege the Jewish citizens of the state. Should Palestinians recognize an apartheid state?

Wayne Kraft

Spokane