Quote:
Originally Posted by Hugh
But how can they be "Palestinians" for the purpose of the election (so don't have a vote), when Israel doesn't recognise the PalestinIan State?
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I think that's the wrong question. Eligibility to vote in a national general election isn't about the existence or otherwise of a foreign state. It's about who has citizenship of the state holding the election. It is very common for national general elections to extend voting rights to citizens staying abroad and for residents, even permanent, who do not have citizenship, to be excluded. Even Netanyahu doesn't claim that the status of Gaza and the West Bank has been finally settled, one way or the other.
The situation in Israel and the Palestinian territories is complex and trite blogs accusing the Israeli government of disenfranchising people who don't want to live under Israeli government, and in many cases don't even recognise that government's right to exist, are not helpful.