Israel, the Arab World - the blessing and the curse

• recognized Israel;
• accepted agreements made by the Palestinian Authority under the previous Fatah-led Administration; and
• denounced violence.

These conditions still remain unmet. A Presidential decree saw the Hamas Government stripped of its electoral win without the call of fresh elections. The bitter internecine fighting between Hamas and Fatah that followed, resulted in Hamas taking control of Gaza in 2007 - leaving the West Bank and Gaza bereft of a single government since then with no prospects of reconciliation.

Instead of attempting to negotiate a peaceful resolution of its conflict with Israel - Hamas continues to indiscriminately target Israeli civilian population centres with rockets and missiles from Gaza. Israel has not sat idly by and allowed such attacks to continue.

Hamas has also done nothing to stop the flow of terrorists and war materiel into Gaza nor to close the tunnels through which entry into Gaza is obtained. Israel's responses to these missile attacks and smuggling operations by taking military action and instituting a blockade and have been denounced as "disproportionate" by a host of UN Resolutions, Commissions and Reports.

Israel has been the target of campaigns of boycott, divestment and sanctions - actively supported and encouraged by organizations, individuals and institutions in democratic societies - including Jews. Large sections of the Israeli media and human rights organizations as well as Rabbis, lay leaders and politicians have condemned successive Israeli Governments for perceived policy failings.

Every world democracy - including the United States - has on occasion seen fit to single out Israeli Governments for condemnation whilst doing nothing to encourage the growth of democracy among the 300 million Arabs suffering oppression in the 21 States comprising the Arab League.

These democracies have been part of the hounds baying for Israel's blood rather than encouraging its neighbours to follow Israel's democratic foundations. Israeli Governments have had to deal with these criticisms and condemnations as they instead focus on what will best serve the national and security interests of the electorate who voted it into power - not those who profess to know better than the average Israeli voter what is good for Israel and its citizens.

Israel enjoys the dubious reputation of being the only member state of the United Nations whose existence is threatened by a number of other member States. The Arab League has failed to recognize Israel for the past 63 years. Democratic countries, anxious to preserve the free flow of oil in the national interests of their own burgeoning economies, have allowed such dictators to grace the world stage.

Israel has thus far survived - and will continue to survive - because it was founded on the ideal of regular free, fair and transparent elections. The Israeli population - including its 20% minority Arab population - will again have its chance to express its view on whether the current Government's response to the criticisms of its policies by the international community - and its own opposition parties - are justified when the electorate next votes in 2013 - or earlier if the Government is defeated on a no confidence motion or resigns.

There have been 18 free and fair elections in Israel since its establishment in 1948. Measure that against the record of any neighboring Arab country now currently in the midst of turbulence and upheaval. When the inevitable triumph of the people over their dictators occurs in those Arab countries, one can only hope that those liberated ensure that their first vote is not their last vote. Their struggle will then have truly proved to be a blessing for them - not a curse.