How many times have you heard that Israel is the democratic ideal of the Middle East?  Bush threw that around like so much fecal matter at a wall.  Yes they have elections and yes the popular vote wins out, well sort of, it is a parliamentary system which means that alliances between parties must be forged so that a majority can be formed.

But wait!  Now for the rest of the story.  (Paul Harvey would be proud)

The Central Elections Committee (CEC)  banned the Arab parties United Arab List-Ta’al and Balad from running in next month’s parliamentary elections amid accusations of racism from Arab MKs. Both parties intend to challenge the decision in the Supreme Court.

Now would a true beacon of democracy ban a political foe from the electoral process?  Especially a party that is a minority and has little chance of winning an election.

I will concede the fact that Israel is the closest thing there is to a democracy there is in the Middle East but please stop call it a beacon of democray.  By calling it so you are diminishing all democracies and all those fighting for democracy.  I am sure that there can be some justification found by the Israelis for this move, but it does not sit well with those who champion democracy.