Democracy as a Component of Security

Silvan Shalom
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs

JERUSALEM ISSUE BRIEF, Vol. 4, No. 24     21 June 2005, Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs

Silvan argues that we need to distinguish between procedural democracy and democracy based on values and world view.

“In this context, we must all reject the inclusion of Hamas in the Palestinian political system. There can be no place in a democratic society for a political party which bears arms, for a political party engaged in terrorism against the citizens of a neighboring country. Such groups pose a danger not only to the security of the citizens of Israel, but also to the very possibility of maintaining Palestinian democracy itself.”

http://www.jcpa.org/brief/brief004-24.htm