Topic: Legitimacy of Government during Popular Uprising
Country: Israel
Delegate Name: Matthew Suandi
School: Williamston High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Israel position papers GLIMUN 2011 committees
The State of Israel, as a parliamentary democracy, maintains universal suffrage for all above 18 years of age. The recent popular uprisings around it however, this so called "Arab Spring," are only bringing anything but democracy to the Middle East. The current transpiring events are not a cause for celebration. Indeed, Israel believes that with these uprisings, the Arab World is moving backwards, not forward.
Israel has learned from history, and history has taught it that the Arab people simply cannot maintain stable democracies. As its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has stated, the Arab Spring has turned into a "Islamic, anti-Western, anti-liberal, anti-Israeli and anti-democratic wave." Israel points to the current situation in Egypt as an example. The military still retains control over the state, and there are only more and more protests against what continues to remain as autocratic rule! Meanwhile, the Egyptian people also incite hatred of their neighbor Israel by violently attacking the Israeli embassy and staging other protests. At least while Hosni Mubarak was still around, Israel could take comfort in the fact that a reasonable man, who respected the national security of countries in the Middle East, was in charge. Today, Israel cannot take comfort in anything.
Israel has much reason to be concerned for its national security. Its people have already witnessed the horrors of hate crimes and their terrible effects. Israel fears the fall of other nations who maintain diplomatic relations with Israel, such as the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The thought of further nations falling to extremist elements is of great concern to Israel.
Regarding the Palestinians and their own efforts for a separate state, Israel recognizes that it must tread carefully. Israel cannot know who will take over in any territory that Israel gives up. If it is a terrorist organization such as Hamas, the results would be disastrous for the Israeli State. That is why Israel has not rushed to conclude a treaty with Palestine in the midst of these recent uprisings. Israel desires a lasting peace with Palestine, not one that will collapse immediately after it is signed.
Israel sees reality. Israel does not see hopes and wishes. It does not have the illusions of a few naive other nations who believe that the Middle East is about to enter into a new, prosperous, democratic era. This is where Israel believes that the United Nations should stand a role. Israel calls upon the UN to recognize the situation for what it is, and uphold the legitimacy of the existing governments, instead of allowing said governments to be toppled by potential extremist elements who present threats to other nations. At this current stage, Israel must place its stability and security over all other matters, and therefore it cannot possibly support the present efforts of the international community to condone the recent uprisings.
