Talk:Israel

Hebrew/Arabic languages

The languages should appear like this:

{{Main|Arabic language|Hebrew language}}

Main articles: Arabic language and Hebrew language

a problem with the article

there are 2 photos of israeli air planes, i think they aren't such fit to this article, but to another who deals with israeli made weapons, thanks.

There is one plane in the Military section and another in a section dealing with the Economy in Israel, both pictures seem to be in suitable categories and areas in the page, there is no reason to move them. Silvertrail (talk) 00:44, 25 January 2013 (UTC)

A criticism section is needed

Very, very badly. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 216.149.187.98 (talk) 17:40, 6 November 2012 (UTC)

No it isn't. Encyclopaedic articles don't have separate 'criticism' sections, but incorporate such material into the remainder of the text. AndyTheGrump (talk) 17:45, 6 November 2012 (UTC)

Wrong. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Criticism_section. 216.149.187.98 (talk) 16:14, 7 November 2012 (UTC)

Anon, to give you the benefit of the good faith, please give us a list of existing country articles with criticism sections so we can judge how to create one per WP format. With some lite surfing, I couldn't find any. --Shuki (talk) 20:05, 7 November 2012 (UTC)

Looking at the list of independent states article, Israel seems unique in that it is the only one with 33 countries that don't recognise it. The other countries on that list either have no other countries that don't recognise them, or just one. There is no other country like Israel on earth, its unique, so your argument about other country articles not having criticism sections does not apply 125.253.96.174 (talk) 07:08, 16 November 2012 (UTC)

Oppose. If focusing on recognition of a country, that would only argue for discussion of recognition, not an open listing of everything a country has done right/wrong. Should we also list the pros/cons of every nation? --207.237.215.72 (talk) 07:12, 19 November 2012 (UTC)

There is no other country like Israel on earth, its unique, so your argument does not apply. 216.149.187.98 (talk) 20:22, 7 November 2012 (UTC)Taco

Can we start the USA criticism section yet? Apparently our democracy fails the Russian test...

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2012/11/mil-121106-rferl01.htm Russian Election Report Concludes U.S. Vote Will Be Neither Free Nor Fair

Duh, of course a billion dollar election isn't "Free". Hcobb (talk) 20:49, 7 November 2012 (UTC)

Stop trying to change the subject, if you have a problem with the US take it up on that page 216.149.187.98 (talk) 21:00, 7 November 2012 (UTC)

What's the issue here, exactly? If 98 is suggesting that there should be a section in this article entitled "Criticm of Israel", then we should be discussing what we'd write in this section, based on which sources. There are several articles that deal with aspects of Israeli policy that have drawn criticism, such as Criticism of the Israeli government. Why not use those? --Dailycare (talk) 20:08, 8 November 2012 (UTC)

Exactly, these articles complain about the actions of the government, not the land. What exactly would be the criticism of the country? "Dry and full of fanatics"? Wouldn't that just mark it as a typical Middle Eastern country? Hcobb (talk) 20:55, 8 November 2012 (UTC)

No need for POV in the article and as for the Anon claim that there is no other country like Israel so only in her case criticism section is required -I think he would have to explain why we don't have one on Iran, Syria, Pakistan (which want to execute mentally retard 12 years old child for tearing the Koran and even that according to only one eye witness) Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, N.Korea and the list can go much longer if the one who roll his eyes up and want us to push his anti-Israeli agenda into the article insist. --Gilisa (talk) 07:44, 9 November 2012 (UTC)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Other_stuff_exists According to this wiki law, then Encyclopaedic articles do indeed need it. Especially the sort where people are trying to Game the system of wiki as it did here "August 18, 2010). "Wikipedia editing courses launched by Zionist groups". The Guardian. Retrieved February 16, 2012." So agreed, there definatly should be a criticism section displaying the sourced facts about the racism in israel and the anti-non jewish policies that is being kept. Not just as a seperate article itself ONLY. Especially the anti-non jew part should be added, the human rights record on controlling the press by violence is just another example http://www.btselem.org/beating_and_abuse/20120913_assault_on_jornalists_in_kafr_qadum 109.225.103.178 (talk) 12:37, 10 November 2012 (UTC)

Wikipedia:Criticism (essay) - "Avoid sections and articles focusing on criticisms or controversies".Moxy (talk) 17:47, 10 November 2012 (UTC)

Israel is already the target if criticism and anger, we do not need to add to that. For the sake of the country's honor, we should focus on saying positive words about it. (Written by a person in the U.S.) 98.246.39.52 (talk) 06:06, 12 January 2013 (UTC)

This article should be focused on retaining a neutral viewpoint towards Israel, not a positive or a negative view, see WP:Neutrality. Silvertrail (talk) 22:30, 24 January 2013 (UTC)

Please refer to the Energy Triangle in the article of Israel - the joint naturalgas extraction between Cyprus, Israel and Greece

Energy Triangle between Israel, Greece and Cyprus

Energy Triangle refers to the joint natural gas extraction between Cyprus, Israel and Greece that is estimated to begin in 2015. Officials from all three countries have agreed to the establishment of a gas pipeline from Aphrodite gas field and Leviathan gas field to a liquefied natural gas plant in Vasilikos Power Station by 2019. According to Noble Energy, a total gross unrisked deep oil potential is enough to cover the supply of natural gas to Europe for 20 years, the supply for Israel for 150 years and for Cyprus 200 years.

This collaboration is part of the strong alliance between the three countries.Kotsia2 (talk) 09:05, 8 December 2012 (UTC)

Defined as "Jewish" in its "Basic Laws"?

The article says "In its Basic Laws Israel defines itself as a Jewish and Democratic State". The full text of the Basic Laws are at http://main.knesset.gov.il/Activity/Legislation/Pages/BasicLaws.aspx and I don't see any "Israel is a Jewish state" there. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 93.172.78.54 (talk) 17:49, 12 December 2012 (UTC)

See the Human Dignity and Liberty law

the Hebrew site = "להגן על כבוד האדם וחירותו, כדי לעגן בחוק-יסוד את ערכיה של מדינת ישראל כמדינה יהודית ודמוקרטית"

the English site = to protect human dignity and liberty, in order to establish in a Basic Law the values of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state.

Sean.hoyland - talk 18:14, 12 December 2012 (UTC)

Isn't Israel a country?

Lebanon and Turkey are "parliamentary democracies" too. Why is only Israel described as such in the article's opening sentence? This has a strong smell of propaganda...

Tomás Rosa Bueno (talk) 16:32, 29 December 2012 (UTC)

Israel's human dignity and liberty law does show that it is a Jewish and democratic state, anon. Tomas Rosa Bueno, why does it smell of propaganda if that is included in the Israel lead? If it is a fact about Israel than it may very well be included, Lebanon and Turkey are indeed democracies too, the fact that they are not stated as such is subject to the talk pages on their respective articles and sources material. Silvertrail (talk) 22:27, 24 January 2013 (UTC)

Edit request on 30 December 2012

Please could you change Tel Aviv to the capital city of Israel. Jerusalem is not officially recognized as the capital, neither by any International country or the United Nations. Dan.s.Jones (talk) 15:19, 30 December 2012 (UTC)

 Not done: Tel Aviv is not the capital city of Israel. Sean.hoyland - talk 16:01, 30 December 2012 (UTC)

Dan.s.Jones is partially correct, Tel Aviv is the unofficial capital of Israel whereas Jerusalem is stated by Israel as it's official Capital, perhaps Tel Aviv can be included as the unofficial capital on this page if it is not already somewhere on here. Silvertrail (talk) 23:23, 24 January 2013 (UTC)

'Conflicts and peace treaties' section

Malik Shabazz, I deleted link to the List of wars involving Israel from hatnotes because all these wars were with Arab countries, and there's already a link to Arab–Israeli conflict which covers this more comprehensively. --Triggerhippie4 (talk) 11:46, 7 January 2013 (UTC)

Thanks for the explanation. — Malik Shabazz ^Talk/_Stalk 11:53, 7 January 2013 (UTC)

just an edit

I can't edit, although it may be interesting to note under the literature section that Israelis publish more material per capita than any other country. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Junglefingers (talk • contribs) 03:11, 13 January 2013 (UTC)

A factlet like that needs a reliable source. — Malik Shabazz ^Talk/_Stalk 03:29, 13 January 2013 (UTC)

Here is one: http://www.biblicalzionist.com/facts.htm — Preceding unsigned comment added by Junglefingers (talk • contribs) 21:14, 20 January 2013 (UTC)

That isn't a reliable source. Sean.hoyland - talk 10:14, 21 January 2013 (UTC)

Apartheid is not mentioned once on this page

that should be changed because currently this page is biased.