Israel

Israel does not have a "ruling body". It is a proportionally elected parliamentary democracy with two separate governmental branches: the legislative-executive branch and an independent judiciary. The Israeli Military (IDF) is subject to the will of the civilian government and does not reserve any special powers or rights.

Legislative-Executive
The Knesset or Israeli Parliament is composed of members who are elected by all Israeli citizens (regardless of race, gender, or religion) and are seated in accordance with the percentage (roughly) of the votes for those parties. After an election, different parties will try to strike agreements with one another to form a coalition that has 61 or more seats (>50% of the Knesset). From this coalition, typically the head of the largest party will become the Prime Minister or the Chief Executive. Other MKs (members of the Knesset) will get posts in the different ministries of the Israeli government and coordinate affairs. The coalition will pass and implement laws designed to improve Israeli society according to what the Knesset rules. Additionally, the Knesset can also pass Basic Laws which are far more permanent than normal laws (similar to a US Constitutional Amendment), but these require a larger percentage of the Knesset to agree to the changes.

Judiciary
Israel has an independent court system which hears cases brought both by Israeli citizens and those on appeal from the military courts in the West Bank from Palestinians. The Israeli courts are designed to be politically impartial and will apply laws approved by the Knesset. The Israeli Supreme Court will occasionally invalidate a law in whole or in part if it violates a Basic Law or if it clearly causes more harm than benefit.

For months now Gaza has been sending misiles into Israel. A peace treaty was established but Hamas, a terrorist group in Gaza, repeatedly broke this treaty by continuing to send rockets into Israel. Israel is simply responding to months of attacks. When the Peace treaty was ended by Hamas, the rocket fire when up to 80 per day. After Cast lead the rocket attacks went down to 2 - 3 a week

Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip, like those in the West Bank, continue to be subject to Israeli control. For example, Israel controls Gaza's air space, territorial waters, and all border crossings. Palestinians in Gaza require Israel's consent to travel to and from Gaza, to take their goods to Palestinian and foreign markets, to acquire food and medicine, and to access water and electricity. Without Israel's permission, the Palestinian Authority (PA) cannot perform such basic functions of government as providing social, health, security and utility services, developing the Palestinian economy and allocating resources.

2). Terrorists or freedom fighters depending on your point of view continue to resist the Israeli occupation with rocket attacks. The reality is the rockets contain no warhead and no guidance system. It can argued that the rockets are nothing more than a large firework with no powder. The mortality rate from rocket attacks since 2001 in Israel is 0.002%

3). In January of 2009, Israel broke the peace and launched operation 'Cast Lead' a massive military offensive against a civilian population. It banned foreign press from entering Gaza. It used white phosphorus (a chemical weapon) on UN sanctioned hospitals and schools (a war crime). Within 23 days the death toll had reached 1,284 palestinians dead, 6 IDF by enemy fire and 3 IDF by friendly fire. When the operation had finished Israel had claimed more land from the Gaza strip in the name of secuirty zones for their protection.

The following links detail some of the incidents that took place during 2009

Judaism is the religion of Jews. There is also the Jewish nation. However, it doesn't matter where in the world a Jew lives, they are 100% Jewish and 100% a part of the Jewish nation.

It should be noted that there are some countries today which actively prevent Jewish citizenship, Jewish property ownership, and other fundamental rights to Jews in a way that differs from whatever rights are granted to the majority population. Thankfully, though, such countries are in the minority today.

Israel is a Parliamentary Democracy. Legislative branch:unicameral Knesset (120 seats; political parties are elected by popular vote and assigned seats for members on a proportional basis; members serve four-year terms)

elections: last held on 10 February 2009 (next scheduled election to be held in 2013)

Joseph is not in the 12 tribes of Israel. Jacob, who is known as Israel has 12 sons...

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun,

Joseph and Benjamin, Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

So logically, 12 tribes of Israel would bore these names...

But no...

The tribe of Levi was given/consecrated to the LORD (Num 3:11-13) and were not to be counted. The consecration of this tribe did not originate in the legislative wisdom of Moses, but in the special appointment of God, who chose them as substitutes for the first-born.

Excluding Levi and including Joseph there are only 11 tribes, but because Joseph is represented by each of his two sons, (Ephraim and Manasseh), who were given the status of independent tribes, it means that there are 12 tribes.

This is their formation around the Tabernacle and in order of their marches;

The Eastern Tribes : Judah, Issachar and Zebulun

The Southern Tribes : Reuben, Simeon and Gad

The Western Tribes : Ephraim, Manasseh and Benjamin

The Northern Tribes : Dan, Asher and Naphtali