Christoph Reuss wrote:
>
> REH asked:
> > Is there any truth to the statement that Israelis are the Swiss of the
> > Middleeast? What are the parallels?
>
> The parallels are that both countries have, compared to the surrounding
> countries, higher levels of wealth, democracy, education, a big army of
> reservists and a high percentage of civilian bunker places (CH: 100%).
>
> However, in important aspects, Switzerland is the _opposite_ of Israel:
> - The history of CH is long and marked by peace (extensions happened by
> voluntary accession of the new areas), whereas Israel's history is
> short and marked by wars, genocides, expulsions and landgrabs.
> - CH maintains close and friendly relationships to the surrounding countries
> and is liked by their citizens even more than vice-versa.
> - CH has one of the highest levels of domestic safety, IL one of the lowest.
> - In CH, racist and religious discrimination is illegal; in IL, it's part
> and parcel of the state.
> - CH introduced the Geneva Conventions and Red Cross; IL continuously
> violates the GC and shells RC ambulances.
> - CH extradites war criminals to The Hague; IL is governed by one.
[snip]
Another question for CR: When was the last time the Swiss immigrants
came into serious conflict with the indigenous population?
Another question about Israel: Aren't there at least Israelis
themselves who ask whether a "jewish state" is consistent with
a "democratic state"? What *are* the enlightened
criteria for deciding when ethnic
exclusivity is good and when it is not so good?
\brad mccormick
--
Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works.... (Matt 5:16)
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thes 5:21)
<![%THINK;[SGML+APL]]> Brad McCormick, Ed.D. / [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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