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The value of democracy

Dear Editor:Mr. Knurr, in his June 21 letter, is correct that five Arab states attacked Israeli forces immediately following their declaration of statehood. However two of the Arab countries attacked in areas to dislodge Israeli forces from territory granted to Palestinians by the partition, and three Arab states attacked territory allocated to Israel by the partition. Israel was fully aware that the act of declaring themselves a free state would provoke such an attack.Mr. Knurr is also correct in his assumption that if free elections were held in the area known as Palestine (which includes Israel) by the people who have lived there for generations, and those who have moved there most recently, the political outcome would be quite different than today. It would be a situation very similar to what occurred in South Africa before and after apartheid.The question we have to ask in each case is what is the value of democracy? Is there a place for religious states?Robert PewWoody Creek