How is Lebanon's democratic system different from Israel's?
There are several key differences between Lebanon's democratic system and Israel's democratic system:
1. Religious representation: In Lebanon, the political system is based on confessionalism, where political power is divided among the country's different religious communities. The president must be a Maronite Christian, the prime minister a Sunni Muslim, and the speaker of parliament a Shia Muslim. In Israel, there is no such religious quota system, and all citizens have equal political rights regardless of their religion.
2. Electoral system: Lebanon uses a proportional representation system with multiple electoral districts, while Israel uses a mixed-member proportional representation system with a single national district. This results in different levels of representativeness and proportionality in each country's elections.
3. Political parties: Lebanon has a fragmented political landscape with many different religious and sectarian parties vying for power. In contrast, Israel has a more stable two-party system dominated by Likud and the Zionist Union.
4. Military influence: In Lebanon, the military plays a significant role in the country's political system, with the Lebanese Armed Forces having a strong presence in political decision-making. In Israel, the military is largely apolitical and does not interfere in the country's democratic processes.
Overall, while both Lebanon and Israel are considered democratic states, their systems of government differ significantly in terms of religious representation, electoral systems, political parties, and military influence.