[sobieski]

A democratic, Western nation only allows those views into the Cabinet that it finds acceptable. If Sharon found ethnic cleansing beyond the pale, the Late Minister Zeevi would not have been given a spot. Cleary, his views reflect something that Sharon is comfortable with. In a secular democracy, he would be shown the door, not brought into the Cabinet. But Israel is just another middle-eastern theocracy.

[cicero's_son]

Zeevi and his party were a useful foil, the monster in the cage if you will. Having them in the government (but without any real power to shape policy) provided Sharon with additional leverage.

It's the same reason why the Saudis choose not to expel all of the radical imams. They need the radicals in order to successfuly promote a program of incrementalism.

[mrustow]

A democratic, Western nation only allows those views into the Cabinet that it finds acceptable. If Sharon found ethnic cleansing beyond the pale, the Late Minister Zeevi would not have been given a spot. Cleary, his views reflect something that Sharon is comfortable with. In a secular democracy, he would be shown the door, not brought into the Cabinet. But Israel is just another middle-eastern theocracy.

You have no idea what you're talking about. A democratic, Western nation only allows those views into the Cabinet that it finds acceptable. You're wrong about democratic, Western nations, and you're wrong about Israel. In Israel, even in a single-party government, cabinet members routinely voice beliefs at odds with those of the prime minister. And Sharon has a coalition goverment, which means that such disagreements are as dramatic as can be.