‘A Jewish and Democratic State’: Present Navigation in the Map of Interpretations

Abstract

This article discusses the Israeli constitutional phrase ‘A Jewish and Democratic State‘. It presents the map of different interpretations of the phrase and proposes a method of navigating among them. Then, one interpretation of the phrase is defended in contrast with all the other ones, which are rejected. This is the interpretation according to which there is no inconsistency in the depiction of a state as being both a nation-state and a democracy. The defense rests on a philosophical analysis of the notion of ‘a Jewish State’ and a Rawlsian conception of democracy.