WHAT IS THE STATE OF ISRAEL?
In our contemporary world, two types of state are to be distinguished. There are states, mainly Western democracies, governed by elected rulers. Many, or perhaps most of these states, are governed by a party, the party winning the elections. At the time of writing, the Tories govern the United Kingdom, the Gaullists rule France and the Republicans are in power in the United States. It may well be the case that in one State or another, the party in power abuses its power. It may be the case that in one state or another, the party in power has obtained its majority of votes, hence, its power, through improper means. Furthermore, the regime may be corrupt and degenerate; yet, in all these states, the party is the ruling power inside the State, but is not the State itself. On the other hand, there are States where the Party constitutes the State. In the Soviet Union, for example, it would not be accurate to say that Communism is the ruling power in the State, because Communism is the State
