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Democracy
"Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East" - this sentence is often heard, but what does it really mean? While desiging FactsOfIsrael.com I had to ask myself the above question, and I did some research to come up with an answer. 
Raymod Aron, a contemporary french philosopher, describes in his "Introduction
a la philosophie politique" 4 main ingredients that are needed in a true Democracy.
I will describe those ideas and see how they are applicable in the case of the
State of Israel. Political freedom To have political freedom is to be able to participate in elections or to be part
of the ruling party. On 2/2002 Israel had 15 parties in the "Knesset", its parliament.
Every Israeli citizen has the right to vote or to be a candidate, including its 980,000
Muslim citizens.  The Knesset in solidarity with the U.S. after the heinous 9/11 attacks Below we can see the results of the last 1999 elections. I also
include a description of all parties from the Israeli political
spectrum, the party lists, the left, the center and the right, the religious parties, the
Sephardic (immigrants from Northern Africa) parties, the Immigrant parties, the Arab Parties and more.
Note that the Israeli
political spectrum changes extremely fast, click here
for example to get details
on the parties running in 1996.
Figures taken from the Knesset's web site
Here's a description of most Israeli parties that passed the 1.5% qualifying threshold in
the 1999 elections. I will describe the parties going from left to right of the political
spectrum.  Mahameed, an Arab Muslim Member of Israel's Parliament
National Alliance:: (2 mandates) An Arab party formed
before the elections to the 14th Knesset. It demands that
Israel become a state of all its citizens, rather than define itself as a Jewish
state. In the elections to the 14th Knesset it ran together with Hadash and had
two Knesset seats.  Yossi Sarid Leader of the Meretz Party
Meretz:: (10 mandates) A left-wing Zionist party, which places emphasis on human rights, social
welfare, the separation of religion and state, and the peace process. It was formed
through the merging of three parties: Ratz (Citizens' Rights, established by Shulamit
Aloni), the socialist Mapam, and the liberal Shinui. In the 14th Knesset (1996) it had
nine seats.  Shimon Peres Leader of the Labor Party
Labor Party: - part of One Israel (26 mandates). A social-democratic party, with roots going back to the
early days of Zionism. Its recent leaders were Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres.
Under the leadership of Ehud Barak, Israel's previous prime minister, it redefined itself
as "New Labor." It had 34 seats in the 14th Knesset (1996)
and ran in the elections to the 15th Knesset in the framework of
"One Israel" -- an alignment with Gesher and Meimad.  David Levy Leader of the Gesher Party
Gesher: - part of One Israel (26 mandates). An ethnic Moroccan party formed before the elections to the 14th
Knesset (1996) by David Levy, formerly a prominent member of the Likud. In the
elections to the 14th Knesset it ran in a single list with the Likud and Tsomet,
and was represented in the Knesset by four members. It was a member of the
14th Knesset government, but left it. In the elections to the 15th Knesset it ran in a
single list with Labor and Meimad.  Arieh Deri For years, leader of the Shas Party Convicted of fraud and jailed
Shas: (17 mandates). A Sephardi Haredi party, founded before the
elections to the 11th Knesset (1984). Sephardim are Jews from Northern Africa (Morocco,
Algeria, Tunisia) and Haredim are Jewish religious Ultra-Orthodox. It has been actively engaged in the battle
against the involvement of the High Court of Justice in religious matters. The
positions of its spiritual leader, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, regarding the peace
process are moderate, but most of the party's supporters are right-wingers. It
had 10 seats in the 14th Knesset and is a member of the current government.
The recent convinction and sentencing of party leader Aryeh Deri for bribery
and fraud had a significant effect on support for the party. The 'Deri effect' had
increased the party's standing amongst the Sephardi electorate, and it won 17 seats
in the 1999 elections, becoming Israel's third party (in size).  Natan Sharansky Leader of the Yisrael Ba'aliya Party Spent years fighting for Jewish freedom in Russia
Yisrael Ba'aliya: (6 mandates). A new immigrants party founded by Natan Sharansky
before the elections to the 14th Knesset (1996) - its main concern is immigrants
welfare. In its political positions it is moderate Right. In the 14th Knesset it
had seven seats and all its members were from the former Soviet Union. In its new slate for the 15th Knesset there was
Ethiopian representation as well.  Ariel Sharon Leader of the Likud Party Currently Israel's Prime Minister
Likud: (19 mandates). A right-wing party formed in 1973 through the fusion of Menachem
Begin's Herut Movement, the Liberal Party, and several other political groups.
In the past it was the most right-wing party in the Knesset, but since 1977 has
become much more pragmatic. It was led by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who
also became Israel's prime minister. It had 22 seats
in the 14th Knesset (1996) under the Likud-Gesher-Tsomet alignment of 32 seats. It is
Ariel Sharon's (Israel's Prime Minister as of 4/2002) party as well.  Moshe Katsav from the Likud Currently Israel's President
Israel Our Home: (4 mandates). A new immigrants' party recently founded by Avigdor
Lieberman, who was a member of the Likud and director-general of the Prime
Minister's Office. The party is extreme right-wing and expresses displeasure with the
country's legal system.  Rehavam Ze'evi Leader of the Moledet/National Unity party Mr. Ze'evi was Israel's Minister of Tourism when he was killed by Palestinian terrorists on 10/2001
One Nation: (2 mandates). An extreme right-wing party that advocates the
voluntary transfer of the Palestinians from Israel, the West Bank and Gaza.
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